Adolescent slot machine dependency and delinquency: Questions on a question of methodology

This paper responds to Abbott, Palmisano and Dickersons' methodological challenge to Fisher's (1992) study of adolescent fruit machine gamblers, carried out with young video game players. It is argued that important differences in the game under study, the measure of 'pathological gambling' used and sample characteristics seriously undermine the extent to which a comparison and extrapolation of findings are achieved. In the analysis which follows, the author wishes to highlight areas of constructive criticism as well as limitations to the challenge with the aim of progressing academic endeavour in this important field.