Research Findings
Evaluation:
- Independent evaluation conducted by the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation.
- Participants were incoming freshmen at a mid-size university.
- Students were randomly assigned to College Alc or a comparison group.
Relative to the comparison students, College Alc students reported:
Greater increases in...
- knowledge of alcohol use and its effects;
- negative alcohol expectancies; and
- intentions to minimize alcohol-related harm (for self and/or friends).
Among drinkers, greater decreases in...
- positive attitudes toward alcohol use;
- high-risk drinking behavior (5 or more drinks at a setting in the past 30 days);
- getting drunk (past 30 days); and
- negative alcohol-related consequences (e.g., missing class, damaging property; past 30 days).
College Alc was developed to address three basic principles:
1. Alcohol use can cause harm
2. This harm can be prevented
3. College students can do a great deal to prevent alcohol-related harm
With these principles in mind, College Alc provides a serious exploration of the role of alcohol in the collegiate experience, responsible decision making regarding alcohol, and strategies for avoiding negative consequences.
Research Articles
Bersamin, M., Paschall, M.J., Fearnow-Kenney, M., & Wyrick, D. (in press). Effectiveness of a web-based alcohol misuse and harm prevention course (College Alc) among high- and low-risk students. Journal of American College Health.
Fearnow-Kenney, M.D., Wyrick, D.L., Hansen, W.B., Bibeau, D.L., & Dyreng, D. (2004). Normative Beliefs, Alcohol Expectancies and Alcohol-Related Problems among College Students: Implications for Theory and Prevention Practice. Journal of Alcohol and Drug Education.
Paschall, M.J., Bersamin, M., Fearnow-Kenney, M., Wyrick, D.L., & Currey, D. (2005). Short-term evaluation of a web-based alcohol misuse and harm prevention course (College Alc). Berkeley, CA: Prevention Research Center.
Wyrick, D.L., Fearnow-Kenney, M.D., Wyrick, C.H., Bibeau, D.L. (In Press). College Alcohol Education and Prevention: A Case for Distance Education. Journal of Alcohol and Drug Education.
