OPGRC introduces synopses of peer-reviewed articles
The objective of the synopsis project is to provide ready access to the gambling research literature for researchers, practitioners, policy makers, government agencies, and our website users.
The OPGRC has undertaken to create one-page synopses of gambling research articles published in peer-reviewed journals. Each synopsis will be one page in length and will contain detail regarding the articles’ purposes, methodologies, key results, limitations, and conclusions. Each synopsis will be communicated at a lay person level. These synopses will be posted with a flexible search function allowing research and audiences who do not have a research background to easily access and understand gambling research. The synopses will allow users to quickly determine whether they should read the full published article.
In the first stage of the project, synopses are being completed of gambling research articles that have appeared peer reviewed journals since 2004. The journals include the top tier, high-impact-factor journals, the gambling specialty journals as well as other peer reviewed journals. A list of the journals and a reference list of articles summarized to date is provided in the Synopsis List by Author.
OPGRC staff consulted with several senior problem gambling researchers on the usefulness of the project and the design and organization of the synopses. Accordingly, the synopses will be organized by topic (e.g., prevention, treatment, screening/evaluation, risk factors, demographics, prevention) on the OPGRC website. Author-derived keywords will also be electronically attached to each synopsis, such that keywords and subject categories can serve as online search prompts. The resource will be user friendly and the Research Officer at OPGRC will manage synopsis enquires. In addition, where possible, each synopsis will be linked to a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) that will link the synopsis with the webpage that provides instruction for complete article access.
Once the synopses are posted on the OPGRC website, experienced researchers in the field will be invited to comment on the research studies’ potential implications for government agencies, researchers, practitioners, and policy makers. Any commentaries provided by these researchers will be posted with the associated synopsis on the website through an RSS feed. OPGRC website users will also be allowed to insert comments regarding synopses using the RSS feed.