Date of Award
2010
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelors
Department
Social Sciences
First Advisor
Pittman, Chavella
Keywords
Substance Use, Social Norms, Sense of Belonging
Area of Concentration
Sociology
Abstract
Social normative theorists often express the importance of understanding interpersonal influence, in order to understand personal change and individual behaviors. Research has often focused on the power of descriptive and injunctive norms, amongst different referent groups, and how these can predict how and why people behave in specific ways. The current thesis studies the issues of perceived substance use and it�s affect on individual student behavior at a small, liberal, arts college, as well as examining the relationship between sense of belonging and substance use. Research was conducted on-campus through an online self-reporting survey in the January interim of 2010. Major findings from the research show how the school under study is indeed similar to the literature on substance use at colleges when it comes to perceived substance use and individual behaviors. However, the current school differed from previous findings on sense of belonging, as it was a not a protective factor for substance use.
Recommended Citation
Vaida, Genevieve, "Do We Fit The Bill? A Quantitative Study of Substance Use at a Small Liberal Arts College" (2010). Theses & ETDs. 4350.
https://digitalcommons.ncf.edu/theses_etds/4350