The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University ®

Research Project Update: A National Attitudinal Study of College Students Susan E. Foster April 16, 2004 Copyright © 2004 The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University ®

® What the Research Suggests: An Introduction to the Research Literature and the Scope of the Issues Copyright © 2004 The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University Funded by Sally Pingree and The Charles Engelhard Foundation for the Bringing Theory to Practice Project

® What the Research Suggests: An Introduction to the Research Literature and the Scope of the Issues Copyright © 2004 The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University The Research Gap CASAs review of the literature revealed a need for well designed research studies to determine whether student engagement in learning and in service can help reduce substance abuse and depression among college students.

® What the Research Suggests: An Introduction to the Research Literature and the Scope of the Issues Copyright © 2004 The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University Study Methodology Focus Groups National Survey

® What the Research Suggests: An Introduction to the Research Literature and the Scope of the Issues Copyright © 2004 The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University Goals of the Focus Groups Obtain qualitative data on how students think about: Substances of abuse Sources of and responses to stress, depression Engaged and service learning Inform a national survey of college students

® What the Research Suggests: An Introduction to the Research Literature and the Scope of the Issues Copyright © 2004 The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University Focus Groups: What Are They? Guided discussions among small groups of participants who speak freely in response to open-ended questions posed by a trained moderator A way to generate thoughts and ideas that are difficult to tap in a more structured data collection procedure

® What the Research Suggests: An Introduction to the Research Literature and the Scope of the Issues Copyright © 2004 The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University Focus Groups Design 6 groups in 3 sites 3 with males, 3 with females Demographically mixed Representative of public and private colleges and universities

® What the Research Suggests: An Introduction to the Research Literature and the Scope of the Issues Copyright © 2004 The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University The Focus Group Session Recruitment of participants Informed consent Assurance of confidentiality Audio-taped sessions Approximately 90 minutes Observed by research staff $50 incentive

® What the Research Suggests: An Introduction to the Research Literature and the Scope of the Issues Copyright © 2004 The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University Focus Groups: Key Discussion Points Motivations for substance use Availability and exposure to substances of abuse College-related pressures or sources of stress Use of substances to self-medicate stress or negative feelings or moods Motivations, incentives and opportunities to be engaged in learning and service Perceived links between the three domains of interest

® What the Research Suggests: An Introduction to the Research Literature and the Scope of the Issues Copyright © 2004 The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University Goal of the National Survey Conduct the first comprehensive examination of college student substance use, depression and engaged and service learning

® What the Research Suggests: An Introduction to the Research Literature and the Scope of the Issues Copyright © 2004 The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University Survey Design Telephone survey National random sample of 2,000 college students, (18 and older) at four-year colleges and universities Representative by region, type, enrollment size Demographically balanced (e.g., gender, race/ethnicity, year in school)

® What the Research Suggests: An Introduction to the Research Literature and the Scope of the Issues Copyright © 2004 The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University Survey Participant Recruitment List-assisted random sample of college students 6 million students from approximately 1,000 colleges and universities in the U.S. (40%-50% of all students) Advance notification letter sent with toll-free number to call if interested in participating Follow-up contact to ensure high response rates

® What the Research Suggests: An Introduction to the Research Literature and the Scope of the Issues Copyright © 2004 The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University Preparing the Survey Draft instrument based on literature review, focus group findings, prior surveys Careful examination of questions to limit bias, ambiguity, confusion Obtain input from key researchers/educators Conduct cognitive interviews with students Program the instrument for CATI Pretest, evaluate findings, final modifications

® What the Research Suggests: An Introduction to the Research Literature and the Scope of the Issues Copyright © 2004 The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University The Survey Interview Session Approximately 25 minutes Oral informed consent No identifying information used or retained Computer-assisted telephone interviewing Highly trained interviewers

® What the Research Suggests: An Introduction to the Research Literature and the Scope of the Issues Copyright © 2004 The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University The Survey Instrument Students attitudes, beliefs and behaviors regarding substance use Signs of depressive symptoms Perceptions of sources of depression Attitudes and behaviors regarding engaged and service learning

® What the Research Suggests: An Introduction to the Research Literature and the Scope of the Issues Copyright © 2004 The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University Survey Data Analysis Explore relationships among attitudes, beliefs, behaviors and experiences re substance use, depression and engaged or service learning Explore gender, racial/ethnic and other demographic differences in responses

® What the Research Suggests: An Introduction to the Research Literature and the Scope of the Issues Copyright © 2004 The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University Reporting the Findings Formal report to the Foundation Findings incorporated into larger CASA Commission report on college student substance abuse Journal articles and conference presentations

® What the Research Suggests: An Introduction to the Research Literature and the Scope of the Issues Copyright © 2004 The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University Dissemination of Research Findings Share report with BTtoP project group Send report to college presidents, community leaders, higher education organizations and associations, mental health professionals Use findings to encourage and guide further research and action

The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University ®