familiarizeolotudents' with physiOlogical effects of alcohoLand

ABSTRACT This study investigated the efficacy of using inoculation theory in developing students' skills in resisting pressures involved with drinking and driving situations. Inoculation theory stems from psychosocial investigations that have demonstrated that resistance to specific opposing arguments can be increased if subjects are familiar with these arguments. The study sample was coihprised of 155 ninth gradeistudents-who participated in instructional sessions that included films, guestion-answer sessions, rble-play exercises, ,and a slide show. Each ofAhese sessions' familiarizeolotudents' with physiOlogical effects of alcohoLand 'persuasive argumentsTeopli use to convince others to engage in risky alcohol-related practices (i.e.,ariding with drinking drivers). Role' -play exercises taught Updeffts the content and aimof'these persuasive argumettts, gave fffbm practice in refuting such arguments, and provided.feedbaCIVon their refutations. Phase I of the inoculation treatment is based on the assumption'that, in general, most students demonstrate varying degrees of resistance to different typeg,of persuasive pressures. Phase2 propbses thate,while students are learning about threatening arguments anq'practicing effective refutations, their level of resistance is high:Although such resistance may still fluctuate, it generally remains strong, Phase 3 illustrates the potential impact of--a "sleeper effect" upon subjects fllowing'inoculation treatments. It is proposedathat, with time, a person who has been Inoculated againsi.h.threatening argument will come to think of even more refutations to theselargumerits. aesearch results suggest that, the inoculation approach is compatible with the goals and objectives of preventive alcohol.. education.. (JD) ,.