Developing and validating a riverboat gaming impact scale

This study attempts to develop and validate an instrument to evaluate resid ents' perceptions of the impacts of riverboat gaming. Using longitudinal su rvey data, this study examines 24 perceived impact attributes by the Cronba ch reliability test. Scale unidimensionality is first revealed by explorato ry and validated by confirmatory factor analyses. Five constructs-free of c rimes, economic effects, community image, community activities, and public services-show acceptable levels of reliability. Construct validity, includi ng discriminant and convergent validity, is also satisfactorily established . Accordingly, this validated gaming impact scale can be further used as a base for building gaming development theories (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd . All rights reserved.