Transcript [Poster Title]

What Influences Teenagers to Try Drugs and
Alcohol for the First Time?
Desiree Martinez
Northern New Mexico College
Department of Integrated Studies in the Humanities of Social Sciences emphasis in
Psychology
Abstract
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This research is exploratory and was exploited as an attempt to get
successful feedback from the stages of curiosity, bullying, or fitting
in.
A random sample was accustomed to determine which of the three
subjects would have the most data collected in the this research study.
This study is unbiased and represents the population of interest.
Within the research findings there was 35 students from Northern
New Mexico College who were willing to participate in this
research study. They were also given a survey to explore their ideas
and answers.
The qualitative research of the indicated analysis as to why teens try
drugs and alcohol for the first time are 55 percent of participants
agreed to teens just wanting to fit in. The other 50 percent of
participants said it was out of curiosity and 43 percent said it was
because of bullying that they tried drugs and alcohol for the first
time.
This qualitative data supports the original hypothesis to the fact that
54.05 percent of participants answered no, when asked if their
parents ever talked to them about peer pressure. The other 45.95
percent of participants answered yes. In analyzing the quantitative
data 30 respondents answered yes when asked if they thought peer
pressure could change their life. Which came out to a total of 81.08
percent, the other participants answered no, however that total came
out to 21.62 percent.
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This chart will clarify the strategies that were used to exploit the
collection of data collected.
A random sample was organized from the participants from
Northern New Mexico College between convenient appropriate
class times.
Discussion
Data Analysis and Findings
Data Collection and Methods
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The dependent variable that was used for this research study is
stated as if the participants have ever done drugs or drank alcohol
just to look in front of their friends.
See below Table 2 as you can see the percentages of the dependent
variable chart.
I chose to do three classes to hand out my surveys in. Therefore, a
random chart with provided numbers is presented.
This particular subject has a soft spot in my heart and I am considering
going into this in my field of work.
I feel that teenagers don’t always speak up for themselves because
their afraid of looking dumb or not fitting in. I was the teenager who
didn’t speak up because I was shy and I always cared of what others
though of me, as I grew up and got to college I have learned that
expressing yourself is the number one way to get what you want in
life.
I cannot stress enough that communication is key. I want to help teens
and children to say, “NO!” when they don’t want to do something
without caring what others think of them. I want them to know that
they could set examples for others if they speak up and say how they
really feel. I believe my topic is qualitative because I am observing the
meanings and patterns of other individuals who attend Northern New
Mexico College.
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Conclusions
In conclusion, this research may have some limitations
to findings.
However, I found it knowledgeable and successful. I
not only got to voice how important it is to speak up as
a teen but also as an adult.
Introduction
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This study observes the correlation of the causation of what
influences teens to try drugs and alcohol for the first time.
I also got to view what others perspectives were. I
appreciate all the feedback that I received positive and
negative. This project helped me grow not only as a
student, but as a person.
• My purpose is exploratory; therefore, this study will be mixed
methods. This topic is highly important because when being a teenager
one decision can be life-changing without even knowing the
importance of thought that the decision may need.
• Social thinking and interacting with individuals create different
attitudes amongst others. Moreover, why does behavior affect one’s
attitude?
•In Exploring Social Psychology by David G. Myers he states, “ Our
actions influence our attitudes. Cognitive dissonance theory and self perception theory offer two explanations.
•Cognitive dissonance theory, proposes we feel tension, or a lack of
harmony (“dissonance”) when two simultaneous accessible thoughts
or beliefs (“cognitions”) are psychologically inconsistent as when one
decides to say or do something one has mixed feelings about (David g.
Myers 98).
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The implications of my findings include preventive or ameliorative
measure. The theory that I came up with on my own was teens try
drugs and alcohol for the first time out of curiosity. However, in one
of the findings that the participants had higher data levels on was,
fitting in.
In the book of Social Psychology by David G. Myers he asks the
question Does Behavior Influence Attitudes? Myers states, “One of
social psychology’s big lessons is that we are likely not only to think
ourselves into a way of acting but also to act ourselves into a way of
thinking” (Myers 91).
As you can see the percentages For Intro to Humanities are at 40.00%
increase for those who answered yes and the N size is equal to 8. Results
change within the size of the class.
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If the class is bigger the Answers increase or decrease in quantity. For
instance, for those who answered no show a decrease of 38.89%. The N
size for Intro to Humanities is equaled to 7. All together has a total N size
of 15.
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Hypothesis
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Social thinking and interacting with individuals create different
attitudes amongst others.
Myers states, “ Our actions influence our attitudes. Cognitive
dissonance theory and self -perception theory offer two
explanations.
Cognitive dissonance theory, proposes we feel tension, or a lack of
harmony (“dissonance”) when two simultaneous accessible
thoughts or beliefs (“cognitions”) are psychologically inconsistent
as when one decides to say or do something one has mixed feelings
about (David g. Myers 98).
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Question 5 of my survey is called a cross tab which gives a total of
results of both yes and no like tic tack toe.
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For example, when participants were asked, “Have you ever done
drugs or drank alcohol just to look cool in front of your friends ?
Why or why not?”
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The tab going across, 100.00% of the 20 participants answered yes
and the tab going down 100.00% of 18 participants answered no.
Null- Hypothesis: 38
Furthermore, as for the Substance Abuse bar the N size is 8 for those who
answered yes, which gives a percentage of 40.00%.
For those answered no that N size is equaled to 22.22% which leaves a
decrease of an N size to 4. between the two percentages the N size is
equaled to 12.
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For the Developmental Psychology class bar, those who answered yes their
N size equaled to 4 with a decrease of 20.00%.
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Those answered no that N size equaled to 7 leaving an increase of 38.89%.
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Random sample is the method used for these selections and percentages. it
is unbiased and represents the population of interest.
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Table 2 is showing that 20 respondents answered yes giving a a
percentage of 52.63%. Those other 18 who answered no, left a
percentage of 43.37%. This leaves a total of 37 respondents.
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Qualitative data analysis outlines the 19 of 35 respondents recorded
their answers. 13 respondents replied yes, the other 6 disagreed.
View table 3.
The N size size for all three fields added together is 39.
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Theory
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I realized I wasn’t the only one who wasn’t sat down as
a teen and got a talk about peer pressure. I realized
how important it its to talk to your child about drugs
and alcohol. Is all it takes is one horrible decision and
it all becomes life changing for an individual. Teens
not only don’t have a voice at times but they care too
much of what their peers think.
During the ethical analysis before I passed this survey out and was able to
get the research data that I’ve provided above.
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I explained to my class participants that there answers were strictly
confidential.
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They were not required to out their name on theses surveys unless they felt
comfortable enough to do so, however , it was not required.
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Qualitative data analysis questions were applied in this data collection and
which also carried onto a Likert scale.
I have found within this research study that it is
important for parents to talk to teens about peer
pressure.
References
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Table 1. College responses when asked: Have you ever tried drugs or drank alcohol just to look cool in front of your friends?
Agreement (13)
Disagreement (6)
“To fit in.”
“Not to be bullied.”
“The thought of not having friends.”
“Young and dumb.”
“Peer Pressured.”
“Problems at home caused me to do both drugs and alcohol.”
“I wanted an escape.”
“I wanted to look cool and be cool while smoking pot.”
“You only live once.”
“I wanted to see what it was like to do both.”
“To feel the buzz or the high.”
“For fun.”
“I’ve done because I wanted to, not look cool.”
Total =19
N= 35
“I see what it does to people.”
“To look cool isn’t cool.”
“I’ve never done something I’ve never wanted to do.”
“Neither drugs nor alcohol have interested me.”
“My friends respected my choice and that I stood up for what I
knew was wrong.”
“I didn’t and don’t believe in doing neither of the substances.”
Discovering Psychology. By: Don H. Hockenbury & Sandra E.
Hockenbury. Fourth Edition. 2007n by Worth Publishers. All rights
reserved. Printed in the United States of America. Jhon B. Watson.
(Pg.7).
• Hay, Carter. Parenting, Self-Control, And Delinquency: A Test Of SelfControl Theory. Criminology.
• Knox, D. M&F (Marriage in The Family ) Stress and Crisis in
Relationships. (201)United States of America.Ss.Publisher:Lidia
Schreiber.
• Myers,D.G. Exploring Social Psychology. Behavior and Belief.
(2009,2007,2004,2000,1994). New York. Published by McGraw-Hill.
An imprint of the McGraw-Hill Companies,Inc.
• Babbie, E. 2013. Social Science Research Methods. chapters 1 and 4
http://www.studygs.net/proposal.htm
Total =19
N=35
• Development Through the Lifespan by Laura E. Berk. Fourth edition.
Copyright 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in
the United of America.
Acknowledgements
I would like to not only thank these instructors but have them
recognized. If it wasn’t for them allowing me to survey their classes
this project wouldn’t have been taking place today.
Patricia Perea, Tim Crone, and Ginna Clark. These instructors were
and are my instructors they have become family and this college has
been my home away from home at times.
I would like to thank over and over Stephanie Amedeo- Marquez she
has not only been a good mentor but also a great instructor. Thank you
once more.