INFORMED CONSENT

Research Project Title: Monetary Decision Making

Researchers: Dr. Evan Curtis, Jessica Curtis

Email: evan.curtis@boothuc.ca

Phone Number: 1-204-924-4881

This consent form, which you can copy and save directly to your computer, is only part of the informed consent process. It should give you the basic idea of what the research is about and what your participation will involve. If you would like more detail about something mentioned here, or information not included here, you should contact Dr. Evan Curtis. Please take the time to read this carefully and to understand any accompanying information.

Purpose: This experiment examines your preferences and choices in risky monetary decisions.

Procedure: In this experiment, you will make a series of choices between various risky monetary decisions. You will also complete a questionnaire.

Risk: There may be risks associated with this experiment if you have a history of gambling addiction. You are free to discontinue participation at any time and with no consequences.

Data collection devices: All stimuli will be presented on the computer monitor and all responses will be collected using your computer keyboard and mouse.

Anonymity and confidentiality: No identifying information will be attached to your response file and so it will be impossible for anyone (including the experimenters) to link your name to your response file.

Storage of data: Your response file will be kept indefinitely on a password protected computer in a folder protected by another unique password. If the research is published we will be obliged to provide your data file to researchers who request it. In that case we will provide a copy of your data file. However, we will not provide any information that could identify you as a participant.

Feedback: A written description of the study and the hypotheses that it is designed to address will be provided to you following the experiment. We hope that you are interested in the research and we will be happy to answer any further questions you might have about it. You may choose to receive a summary of the results of the experiment by providing an email address following the experiment. If you provide an email address, we will email you the results and conclusions of the experiment by September 1st, 2021.

Your acceptance of the terms on this form indicates that you have understood to your satisfaction the information regarding participation in the research project and agree to participate as a participant. In no way does this waive your legal rights nor release the researchers, sponsors, or involved institutions from their legal and professional responsibilities. You are free to withdraw from the study at any time, and / or refrain from answering any questions you prefer to omit, without prejudice or consequence.

This research has been approved by the Research Ethics Board (REB) at Booth University College in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS EXPERIMENT

I have read and understood the above material. I consent to participate and permit my responses to be used for research purposes. I understand that I may withdraw, without penality, at any time.

I consent to participate in this experiment.

On each trial of the next part of this experiment, you will be given a choice between two monetary decisions. Each decision involves winning or losing a set amount of money with certain probabilities. Each choice has two mutually-exclusive possible outcomes. You will be asked to select the option that you would prefer to take. Please do your best to act as if you were making real decisions with real money.

Click on the button below to proceed.

Option 1:

A(n) % chance of $

and

A(n) % chance of $

Press the "A" key to select this option.

Option 2:

A(n) % chance of $

and

A(n) % chance of $

Press the "L" key to select this option.

Option 1:

A(n) % chance of $

Press the "A" key to select this option.

Option 2:

A(n) % chance of $

and

A(n) % chance of $

Press the "L" key to select this option.

First, you will be asked to fill out a survey related to gambling behaviours. Please answer each question as accurately as possible. Remember that your responses will be completely anonymous. If any questions cause you distress or discomfort, please feel free to skip them.

Click on the button below to proceed.

How often do you bet or spend money on gambling activities?

Daily

2-6 times per week

About once a week

2-3 times per month

About once a month

6-11 times per year

1-5 times per year

Never in the past year

When spending money on gambling activities, how many hours do you normally spend each time?

How much money, not including winnings, do you spend on gambling activities in a typical month?

What is the largest amount of money you ever spent on a gambling activity in any one day?

How often have you bet more than you could really afford to lose?

Never

Sometimes

Most of the time

Almost always

How often have you bet or spent more money than you wanted to on gambling?

Never

Sometimes

Most of the time

Almost always

How often have you needed to gamble with larger amounts of money to get the same feeling of excitement?

Never

Sometimes

Most of the time

Almost always

How often have you gone back another day to try to win back the money you lost?

Never

Sometimes

Most of the time

Almost always

How often have you borrowed money or sold anything to get money to gamble?

Never

Sometimes

Most of the time

Almost always

How often have you lied to family members or others to hide your gambling?

Never

Sometimes

Most of the time

Almost always

How often have you felt that you might have a problem with gambling?

Never

Sometimes

Most of the time

Almost always

How often have you felt like you would like to stop betting money or gambling, but you didn't think you could?

Never

Sometimes

Most of the time

Almost always

How often have people criticized your betting or told you that you had a gambling problem, regardless of whether or not you thought it was true?

Never

Sometimes

Most of the time

Almost always

How often have you felt guilty about the way you gamble or what happens when you gamble?

Never

Sometimes

Most of the time

Almost always

How often has gambling caused you any health problems, including stress or anxiety?

Never

Sometimes

Most of the time

Almost always

After losing many times in a row, you are more likely to win.

Strongly agree

Agree

Disagree

Strongly disagree

You could win more if you use a certain system or strategy.

Strongly agree

Agree

Disagree

Strongly disagree

Do you remember a big WIN when you first started gambling?

Yes

Do you remember a big LOSS when you first started gambling?

Yes

Has anyone in your family EVER had a gambling problem?

Yes

Has anyone in your family EVER had an alcohol or drug problem?

Yes

Have you used alcohol or drugs while gambling?

Yes

Have you gambled while high or drunk?

Yes

Have you felt you might have an alcohol or drug problem?

Yes

If something painful happened in your life, did you have the urge to gamble?

Yes

If something painful happened in your life, did you have the urge to have a drink?

Yes

If something painful happened in your life, did you have the urge to use drugs or medication?

Yes

Have you been under a doctor's care because of physical or emotional problems brought on by stress?

Yes

Was there ever a time when you felt depressed for two weeks or more in a row?

Yes

Have you ever seriously thought about committing suicide as a result of your gambling?

Yes

Have you ever attempted suicide as a result of your gambling?

Yes

Thank you for answering these questions. Click on the button below to proceed.

First, thank you very much for taking part in this study.

The monetary choices you made are designed to allow us to calculate something called a “cumulative prospect function”. It is a tool that measures your general levels of risk seeking and risk aversion when making financial choices. The purpose of this research is to determine whether individual differences in that function are able to predict problem gambling behaviour (the questionnaire you completed is a standard way to measure these behaviours). We will be conducting statistical analyses to determine the relationship between your questionnaire responses and your choices in the monetary decision task. We hope that the results will provide insight into the underlying causes of, and effective treatments and interventions for, problem gambling behaviour.

If you are having problems with gambling, please use the links below to find help (links will open in a new tab).

sanvello.com

7cups.com

betterhelp.com

smartrecovery.org

If you have any questions about the research, please contact Dr. Evan Curtis at evan.curtis@boothuc.ca or 1-204-924-4881.

If you would like to receive a summary of the results, please provide your email in the space below. If you would like to withdraw your data, please select the option below.

Email address (optional)

I want to withdraw my data from analysis.

Click on the button below to complete the experiment and submit your HIT.