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Alcohol: A description and comparison of recent scientific vs. public knowledge
Author(s) -
Buckalew L. W.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
journal of clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.124
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1097-4679
pISSN - 0021-9762
DOI - 10.1002/1097-4679(197904)35:2<459::aid-jclp2270350248>3.0.co;2-7
Subject(s) - misinformation , fetal alcohol syndrome , psychology , alcohol abuse , suggestibility , documentation , clinical psychology , alcohol , social psychology , developmental psychology , psychiatry , biochemistry , chemistry , political science , computer science , law , programming language
Sought to survey alcohol research since the “rediscovery” of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and to compare recent scientific knowledge with that of the general public. Research was found to concentrate on searching for explanations of alcohol use and/or abuse and on several areas of biological morphogenesis. Significant documentation exists for FAS and validates both physiological and developmental attributes. As an index of public knowledge, an alcohol questionnaire was administered to 190 high‐school, college, and graduate students. True‐false items represented statements relative to the nature, etiology, effects, variables, and consequences of alcohol use/abuse. The composite mean of less than 60% correct suggested significant misinformation and misconceptions about alcohol. A summary of the most dramatic informational deficits was presented. There was a positive, though minimal, relationship between alcohol knowledge and education, and both sex and race differences were noted.