ERIC ED376391: Factors Associated with Attitude toward Alcohol in Small High Schools.

99 Pages·1994·1.1 MB·English

by  ERIC

DOCUMENT RESUME
ED 376 391
CG 025 767
AUTHOR
Esplund, Dona L.
TITLE
Factors Associated with Attitude toward Alcohol in
Small High Schools.
PUB DATE
94
NOTE
99p.; Master of Science Thesis, Fort Hays State
University.
PUB TYPE
Dissertations/Theses
Masters Theses (042)
Tests /Evaluation Instruments (160)
EDRS PRICE
MF01/FC04 Plus Postage.
DESCRIPTORS
Adolescents; Alcohol Abuse; Alcohol Education;
*Drinking; High Schools; Parent Attitudes; Peer
Influence; *Rural Youth; *Small Schools; *Student
Attitudes
IDENTIFIERS
Kansas
ABSTRACT
Alcohol use among urban youth has been regularly
surveyed, but assessment of rural residents is rare. Information
about factors associated with attitudes toward drinking could be
especially useful to school counselors. This study used
questionnaires to investigate the association of attitudes toward
alcohol and alcohol use with the following independent variables:
grade; gender; community; perceived peer attitude; perceived parental
attitude; and knowledge of alcohol. Participating in the
survey were
139 students at two high schools in rural Kansas. No significant
relationships between alcohol habits and grade level, gender,
or
community were found. Results did indicate that perceived
peer and
parental attitudes significantly affect teenagers' attitude toward
drinking and actual alcohol use; that there is also
a relationship
between knowledge of alcohol and attitude toward alcohol (with low
knowledge of alcohol often indicating a more positive attitude); and
between attitude toward arinking and alcohol
use. The results seem to
support the use of alcohol-awareness programs in rural high schools,
P-d to encourage teachers and counselors to emphasize individuality
and resistance to the influence of others. Includes 6 appendixes, 6
tables, and the survey instruments. Contains 23 references.
(CC)
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I
.as
IN
T-
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to
FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH ATTITUDE TOWARD
ALCOHOL IN SMALL HIGH SCHOOLS
being
A Thesis Presented to the Graduate Faculty
of the Fort Hays State University
in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
for Degree of Master of Science
by
Dona L. Esplund
B.S., Kansas State University
Approved
Date
Major Professor
Approved
Chair, Graduate Council
"PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY
Office of Educational Research and improvement
ESPLMAlp
EDUCATIONAL. RESOURCES INFORMATION
CENTER (ERICI
This document has been reproduced as
received tram the person or organization
originating it
P Minor changes have been made to improve
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TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
Points of view or opinionsstaledin this docu
BEST COPY AVAILABLE
2
INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC).
ment do not necessarily represent
OERI position or policy
r
Graduate Committee
Approval
hereby approves her
The Graduate committee of Dona L. Esplund
for the degree of .
thesis as meeting partial fulfillment of the requirements
Master of Science.
Approved
Chair, Thesis Committee
Approved
Committee Member
Approved
Committee Member
Approved
Committee Member
Date
Acknowledgements
to extend my appreciation to my graduate
would like
I
Tom
Dr. Charles Leftwich, Dr. James Stansbury, Dr.
committee:
Shaffer for their guidance and support
Guss and Dr. Warren
would also like to extend a
throughout my graduate studies.
I
and effort throughout
special thanks to Dr. Bill Daley for his time
past year.
this
I would also like to express my appreciation to my
family.
I
Helen Pitman for her help in collecting
am indebted to my mother
I would not
Finally,
of proofreading.
my data and for many hours
be at this point if not for the support and encouragement
from
I am dedicating this project to these
my husband Chris.
contributors.
ii
4
Table of Contents
Page
Introduction
1
Overview
1
4
Influences
External
Adolescent Use and Gender Difference
11
11
Effects of Peer and Parental Attitude on Usage
14
Knowledge of Alcohol as a Factor
on Usage
15
Summary
15
Statement of the Problem
16
Rationale and Importance of the Research
17
Composite Null Hypotheses
18
Null Hypothesis
18
Rationale
Independent Variables
and
19
Definition of Variables
19
Independent Variables
20
Dependent Variables
20
Limitations
21
Methodology
21
Setting
21
Subjects
22
Instrumentation
25
Design
27
Data Collection Procedures
iii
Table of Contents (continued)
28
Research Procedures
2 9
Data Analysis
30
Results
5 6
Discussion
56
Summary
The Related Literature and Results of the Present Study.
5 7
5 8
Generalizations
5 9
Implications
60
Recommendations
6 1
References
iv
6
List of Appendixes
Page
Appendix A:
Letter to Glen Strecker
64
Appendix B:
Note of Permission from Glen Strecker
66
Appendix C:
Copy of Glen Strecker's Questionnaire
68
Appendix D:
Letter to Prospective Schools
73
Appendix E:
Approval Letter from Schools
7 6
Appendix F:
to Teachers
Instructions
7 9
Appendix G:
Revised
Instrument
81
List of Tables
page
Scores for
A Comparison of Mean Alcohol Questionnaire
Table
1:
Peer
9th-12th Grade Students According to Perceived
Attitude
Attitude Toward Alcohol, Perceived Parental
Three-way
Toward Alcohol, and Gender, Employing a
Analysis of Variance (General Linear Model)
3 2
for
A Comparison of Mean Alcohol Questionnaire Scores
Table 2:
9th- 12th Grade Students According to Perceived Parental
Attitude Toward Alcohol, Gender, and Knowledge of
Alcohol .Employing a Three-way Analysis of Variance
(General Linear Model)
3 7
A Comparison of Mean Alcohol Questionnaire Scores for
Table 3:
9th- 12th Grade Students According to Gender, Knowledge
of Alcohol, and Perceived Peer Attitude Toward Alcohol
Employing a Three-way Analysis of Variance (General
41
Linear Model)
A Comparison of Mean Alcohol Questionnaire Scores for
Table 4:
9th-12th Grade Students According to Knowledge of
Alcohol, Perceived Peer Attitude Toward Alcohol, and
Perceived Parental Attitude Toward Alcohol Employing a
Three-way Analysis of Variance (General
46
Linear Model)
vi
r
List of Tables (continued)
A Comparison of Mean Alcohol Questionnaire Scores for
Table 5:
9th-12th Grade Students According to Grade Placement,
Community, and Perceived Peer Attitude Toward Alcohol
Employing a Three-way Analysis of Variance (General
Linear Model)
A Comparison of the Calculated correlational Coefficient
Table 6:
for Attitude Toward Drinking, Alcohol Use, and Zero for
test for Single
9th-12th Grade Students Employing a
t
Mean
List of Figures
page
1: The Interaction Between Gender and Perceived Peer
Figure
Attitude Toward Alcohol for the Dependent Variable
44
Alcohol Use