evaluating peers

• EVAL - PEERS

  Research Evidence

  Bosari and Carey 2001 - literature review - effects of peer pressure on drinking of college students

  PSN - make excessive alcohol use appear common

  strong support that peers impact AB, but no conclusive proof

  Bosari and Carey - reviewed lots of studies - ext val, may be inconsistencies - int rel
• EVAL - PEERS

  Method issues - research evidence = correlational

  Simons and Farhart - positive relationship between peers and smoking

  only rel found, can't establish cause and effect

  can't say for certain that PI causes A

  EXT - Ennet and Bauman - non smokers w smokers = more likely to smoke - evidence of influence

  switch friend groups in line with smoking behaviour = evidence of selection
• EVAL - PEERS

  Reductionist - complex behaviour due to only peer interactions

  fails to account for other influences

  PI - weak account of AB = Diathesis Stress Model is better

  C - most AB - carried out in private - how do peers influence that and what maintains it
• EVAL - PEERS

  Useful applications

  SNMA ( Social Norms Marketing Advertising ) uses advertising to challenge young people's perception of drinking habits

  trial in welsh unis - stats on beer mats

  PSN - may be useful to prevent AB in at risk groups, successful applications > val, but its overall effectiveness isn't successful

  No evidence to suggest it reduced drinking, only changed attitudes towards it
• EVAL - PEERS

  Conclusions

  evidence suggest relationship but not causation

  PI - important factor in initiation but can't explain why it's maintained

  most evidence focuses on specific addictions but not others > limited

  useful - challenges students perception of others behaviour and may help reduce engagement in vulnerable groups prone to starting addictive behaviours