Abstract

Research Instruments

Here, you will find measures related to gambling and substance abuse that have been developed by Dr. David Hodgins and his research team. All measures listed on this page are available for download and use for research purposes, provided they are appropriately cited.

  1. Description

    The Brief Screener for Behavioural Addiction is designed to identify individuals who have had excessive involvement in the past year in any of ten substances or behaviours to the extent that involvement is causing significant problems. The ten substances or behaviours assessed are alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, cocaine, gambling, over-working, over-eating, sex, video gaming, and shopping.

  2. Reference

    Schluter, M.G., Hodgins, D. C., Wolfe, J. & Wild, T.C. (2018). Can one simple questionnaire assess substance-related and behavioural addiction problems? Results from a proposed new screener for community epidemiology. Addiction, 113 , 158-1537. Doi:10.111/add.14166

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    BSBA User Guide

  1. Description

    The GASS is a 21-item measure assessing self-efficacy to abstain from gambling across various high-risk situations. The available manuscript provides a description of scale development, reliability, and validity.

  2. Reference

    Hodgins, D., Peden, N., & Makarchuk, K. (2004). Self-efficacy in pathological gambling treatment outcome: Development of a gambling abstinence self-efficacy scale (GASS). International Gambling Studies, 4(2), 99-108.

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    GASS

    GASS Scoring Key

    GASS Manuscript

  1. Description

    The GCI is a 33-item measure assessing cognitive distortions associated with pathological gambling. The available manuscript provides a description of scale development, reliability, and validity.

  2. Reference

    McInnes, A., Hodgins, D. C., & Holub, A. (2014). The Gambling Cognitions Inventory: Scale development and psychometric validation with problem and pathological gamblers. International Gambling Studies, 14(3), 410-431. doi: 10.1080/14459795.2014.923483

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    GCI 

    GCI Scoring Key

  1. Description

    The GAIA is a 31-item measure assessing both video game addiction and engagement. The available manuscript provides a description of scale development, reliability, and validity.

  2. Reference

    Wong, U., & Hodgins, D. C. (2014). Development of the game addiction inventory for adults (GAIA). Addiction Research & Theory, 22(3), 195-209. 

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    GAIA 

    GAIA Scoring Key

    GAIA Manuscript

  1. Description

    The PoC is a self-report scale based on the transtheoretical model of change (DiClemente & Prochaska, 1998) that was originally developed to measure change during smoking cessation. It has been adapted to measure change in problem gambling. The scale classifies respondents into five developmental stages: pre-contemplation, contemplation, determination, action, and maintenance. Explanations of the processes of change can be found in the manuscript.
     

  2. Reference

    Hodgins, D. C. (2001). Processes of changing gambling behavior. Addictive behaviors, 26(1), 121-128.

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    PoC Gambling Questionnaire

    PoC Gambling Scoring Key

  1. Description

    The readiness to change questionnaire--clinician version (RCQ-CV) provides a measure of stage of change based upon the transtheoretical model of change (Prochaska, DiClemente, and Norcross, 1992). Separate versions are provided for both alcohol problems and drug problems. The available manuscript provides a description of the development of the RCQ-CV, validity and reliability.

  2. Reference

    Hodgins, D. C. (2001). Stages of change assessments in alcohol problems: Agreement across self-and clinician-reports. Substance Abuse, 22(2), 87-96.

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    RCQ-CV for Alcohol Problems

    RCQ-CV for Drug Problems

    RCQ-CV Manuscript

  1. Description

    The SDS-G is a brief, psychometrically sound, outcome measure of impairment associated with gambling disorders that can be administered by telephone.

  2. Reference

    Hodgins, D. C. (2013). Reliability and validity of the Sheehan disability scale modified for pathological gambling. BMC psychiatry, 13(1), 177.

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    SDS-G

    SDS-G Manuscript

  1. Description

    The TGQ is a 21-item measure assessing temptation to gamble across various high-risk situations. The available manuscript provides a description of scale development, reliability, and validity.

  2. Reference

    Holub, A., Hodgins, D. C., & Peden, N. E. (2005). Development of the temptations for gambling questionnaire: A measure of temptation in recently quit gamblers. Addiction Research & Theory, 13(2), 179-191.

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    TGQ

    GASS and TGQ Scoring Grid

    TGQ Manuscript

  1. Description

    The Timeline Followback (TLFB; Sobell and Sobell, 1996) is a method of retrospectively assessing gambling behaviour over a specified period of time. The method was originally developed to assess alcohol use, but has been applied to other addictive behaviours including drugs and gambling. The procedure involves using calendars and memory aids to determine specific days and amounts of money gambled over a specified period of time. TLFB can be done both in-person and over the telephone.

  2. Reference

    Hodgins, D. C., & Makarchuk, K. (2003). Trusting problem gamblers: Reliability and validity of self-reported gambling behavior. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 17(3), 244.

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    TLFB Instructions

    TLFB Manuscript

  1. Description

    Measuring recent cannabis use across modes of delivery: Development and validation of the Cannabis Engagement Assessment

    Abstract

    Introduction

    Methods of cannabis engagement have proliferated in recent years, which many self-report measures do not adequately capture. There is a clear need for self-report measures that capture current patterns of cannabis use across a range of methods, and that can be used to track changes over time. The current study developed the Cannabis Engagement Assessment (CEA), a self-report measure of past month cannabis use across dry flower, concentrate, and edible products.

    Methods

    A sample of 349 participants from the undergraduate student population and broader community were recruited. To examine convergent validity of the CEA, participants completed measures of cannabis engagement, cannabis misuse, and use-related problems. To assess divergent validity, participants also completed measures of depression and alcohol use problems. Criterion and test–retest reliability were examined in a subset of 65 participants who re-completed the CEA and a timeline follow-back interview (TLFB).

    Results

    Indicators of cannabis use frequency and quantity showed good convergence with measures of cannabis use patterns, problematic engagement, and cannabis use-related problems. Divergent validity of the CEA was supported by lower associations with alcohol use problems and depression symptoms. The CEA also showed good test–retest reliability and convergence with estimates of frequency and quantity of cannabis use from the TLFB.

    Conclusions

    The CEA is a viable self-report measure of cannabis use that is representative of current patterns of recreational cannabis engagement. Its focus on cannabis use in the preceding 30 days also lends itself to measuring changes in use over time.

  2. Reference

    Schluter, M. G., & Hodgins, D. C. (2022). Measuring recent cannabis use across modes of delivery: Development and validation of the cannabis engagement assessment. Addictive Behaviour Reports, vol 15, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.abrep.2022.100413.

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