Rowan Students vs. Drinking Patterns

Jessica Kotelnicki & Casey Grasso

CKA Honors Research Project

Background Binge drinking is a growing epidemic on most college

campuses. (CDC)

College is the base of one’s career and binge drinking can affect students’ negatively with their academics.

Viewers can learn the consequences of binge drinking and be able to make smarter choices the next time they are out drinking or diminish a poor drinking habit.

Pilot Project Surveyed two “neither” classmates Both said the survey questions were clear No changes needed to be made to the survey The correlation between their answers helped us

answer our research question

Research Question Question: Do drinking patterns affect the academics

and responsibilities of Rowan students?

Rationale: To justify that drinking patterns do affect academics for

rowan students Uphold more mandatory workshops for athletes regarding

alcohol consumption and performance in school and on the field.

To promote the Coordinator of Greek Affairs to lower drinking opportunities for Greek Life Have a stricter GPA requirement Require house “parents” to check in weekly for reports

Methods

75 students (25 neither, 25 Greeks, 25 athletes) ALL ROWAN STUDENTS

Gathered from Rowan Campus: James Hall, SC, Library, Cafe

20 question survey

Excel averages of each question

Coded questions by: academic patterns, drinking patterns, and academics affected by drinking

FindingsAthletes

Greeks Neither

GPAHours StudyingGPA or Social Life?

2.0-4.01-2 hoursGPA more important

1.0-3.01-2 hoursSocial life more important

2.0-4.01-2 hoursGPA more important

Drinking patterns 1-3 nights drinking1-2 school nightsEnvironment & peer pressure don’t affect drinking patterns

2-3 nights drinking1-2 school nightsEnvironment & peer pressure affect drinking patterns

1-2 nights drinkingNo school nights – ½ nightsEnvironment & peer pressure don’t affect drinking patterns

Academics affected by drinking

Good attendance in schoolBelieve drinking affects academics

Bad attendanceEqual thoughts on academics affecting social life

Good attendance in schoolDon’t believe drinking affect academics

Self- Efficacy Good Bad Good/Bad- surprising

Important Data

GPA Hours Studying

Nights Drinking

School nights

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

AthletesGreeksNeither

Limitations

Hard to find Greeks Had to go to Greek Life meetings

inconvenient

Bias- asked athletes to fill out surveys Athletic community is small – everyone knows everyone

Implications

This research is good for students to realize how much drinking can impact one’s academics.

If we were to do a larger study, we would complete more random sampling rather than surveying the first people we meet

Survey a larger group of people

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2010) Binge Drinking. CDC. Retreived October 20, 2011, from http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/binge-drinking.htm.

Howland, J., Rohsenow, D. J., Greece, J. A., Littlefield, C. A., Almeida, A., Heeren, T., and Hermos, J. (2010). The Effects of Binge Drinking On College Students' Next-day Academic Test-taking Performance and Mood State. Retrieved October 18, 2011, from Addiction, 105(4), 655-665.

Nonis, S. A., & Hudson, G. I. (2010). Performance of College Students: Impact of Study Time and Study Habits. Retrieved October 23, 2011, from Journal Of Education For Business, 85(4), 229-238.

Powell, L., Williams, J., & Wechsler, H. (2004). Study habits and the level of alcohol use among college students. Retrieved October 25, 2011, from Education Economics, 12(2), 135-149.

Singleton Jr., R. A., & Wolfson, A. R. (2009). Alcohol Consumption, Sleep, and Academic Performance Among College Students. Retrieved October 29, 2011, from Journal Of Studies On Alcohol & Drugs, 70(3), 355-363.