NCJ Number
232004
Journal
Journal of Alcohol and Drug Education Volume: 54 Issue: 2 Dated: August 2010 Pages: 53-71
Date Published
August 2010
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This study reviewed three experiments which examined the impact of anchors on students' estimates of personal alcohol consumption.
Abstract
Three experiments investigated the impact of anchors on students' estimates of personal alcohol consumption to better understand the role that this form of bias might have in social norm intervention programs. Experiments I and II found that estimates of consumption were susceptible to anchoring effects when an open-answer and a scale-response format were used. Experiment III utilized a design that communicated social norm information as a previous social norm intervention had done and found that self-reported binge drinking was reduced though actual consumption could not have changed. Implications for the use and assessment of social norm intervention as a component of alcohol education are discussed including the pessimistic possibility that social norm interventions may not be affecting students' actual consumption. References (Published Abstract)