The Effect of Preconceived Expectations of Alcohol and College Life on Freshmen's Drinking Behaviors
Date of Award
5-12-2012
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Honors Thesis
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Dr. Katherine Novak
Abstract
Drinking on college campuses is a primary concern of university staff, administration, law enforcement, and parents. In a study that evaluated the normative perceptions about college life and alcohol use with 147 college freshmen, normative perceptions of the college experience were evaluated with their relationship to drinking behavior. Researchers surveyed the residential, incoming freshmen class about their perceptions their first night on campus and followed up with these students on their behaviors after a full semester on campus. Researchers aimed to pinpoint a relationship between the expected student role, the typical student role, and the campus climate. It was hypothesized that each of the aforementioned measures would be significant predictors of drinking behaviors in students. While both the expected student role and typical student role were found to be significant predictors, the campus climate had seemingly no effect. The data suggests that overall campus impressions are not as significant to the student in terms of their behaviors, and any attempt to establish programs on drinking behaviors should be centered on specific and direct norms that are related to the students.
Recommended Citation
Wilcox, Trisha Nicole, "The Effect of Preconceived Expectations of Alcohol and College Life on Freshmen's Drinking Behaviors" (2012). Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection. 142.
https://digitalcommons.butler.edu/ugtheses/142