Citation

Clapp JD, Lange JE, Russell C, Shillington A, Voas RB. J. Stud. Alcohol 2003; 64(3): 409-414.

Affiliation

School of Social Work, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, California 92182-4119 USA. jdclapp@mail.sdsu.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, Rutgers Center of Alcohol Studies)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12817831

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: In this article we test the efficacy of an intensive norms social marketing campaign to reduce heavy drinking among college students living in a residence hall. METHOD: We employed a pretest-posttest nonequivalent comparison group design. The study was conducted in two (experimental and comparison) comparable residence halls located in a large urban public university. We attempted a census at each hall, and pre- and postintervention data were collected in public areas of each residence hall. Relative sample sizes were approximately 60% in the experimental hall (both waves) and 38% in the comparison hall. RESULTS: The campaign successfully corrected students' misperceptions of drinking norms but had no effects, or counterintuitive effects, on drinking behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the popularity of this approach, universities would be prudent to proceed with care before adopting this approach wholesale.

Language: en