HEALTH Mundt contemporary study Flashcards
A01 points for paragraph 1
1) Mundt et al aimed to investigate whether adolescents select friends with similar alcohol use (the selection explanation) or whether adolescents adjust their alcohol consumption to fit with the alcohol consumption level of their friends (influence explanation). Mundt’s study analysed data previously collected from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (1995-1996).
2) This data was collected from American school children in the 7th – 11th grades (13-18 years old). A stratified sampling method was used to choose high schools and middle schools that were considered representative of American schools in terms of region, funding and ethnicity.
A03 positive point for paragraph 1
GENERALISABLE
Many students were used within the sample and were selected due to being considered representative in terms of region, funding and ethnicity, which makes the findings more generalisable to the wider American population of this age.
HOWEVER, the sample may be criticised for being ethnocentric and not representative of alcohol consumption in other cultures; for example, the age of legal drinking in America is 21 which may affect the findings.
A03 positive point for paragraph 2
OBJECTIVITY
The use of closed questions on the questionnaires produced quantitative data, for example, the categories to indicate the frequency of alcohol consumption. The data could therefore be objectively analysed statistically to establish any trends in alcohol use.
A03 negative point for paragraph 1
VALIDITY
The current study did not collect their own data; instead, they used secondary data, which was gathered during previous research, which can pose questions around the validity of the data being used.
FURTHERMORE, the study only provides correlational data, meaning it only outlines the relationship between friendship and alcohol consumption and cannot determine cause and effect.
A01 points for paragraph 2
3) A total of 2563 students were used in Wave 1 of the study. 51% were boys and 49% were girls. The students and their parents completed an in-home survey which included questionnaires.
4) Researchers collected data, including expectations for the future, self-esteem, and risk behaviour, such as alcohol use.
A01 points for paragraph 3
5) Twelve months later (wave 2), the students completed another survey where they were asked similar questions, including ‘How often did you consume alcohol in the past year?’ Categorical responses included never, 1 or 2 times, 3 to 12 times monthly but not weekly, weekly, and more than once a week. Once again, they were asked to name their 5 best male friends and 5 best female friends.
6) After discarding some participants, a total of 2299 students were used in this wave of the study. Mundt found friendship selection was associated with similarity in alcohol consumption; therefore, supporting the selection explanation for alcohol use.
A03 negative point for paragraph 2
VALIDITY
Alcohol use was self-reported within the study meaning that the students may have answered differently from their actual alcohol use to provide socially desirable answers. Considering the participants were under the legal age of consent to drink alcohol in America, they may have had reservations about disclosing any engagement in such behaviour which would lower the validity of the findings.
A03 positive point for paragraph 3
RELIABILITY
The questionnaires used were standardised allowing replication across many participants and across the two waves of the study. This increases the reliability of the findings allowing comparisons to be made between different year groups and data from Wave 1 and Wave 2.
A03 negative point for paragraph 3
REDUCTIONIST
The study isolated alcohol use as a factor influencing friendship selection, to the detriment of any other possible explanation. It ignores other reasons why someone may choose a friend, thus making it reductionist.
A03 positive point for conclusion
USEFUL APPLICATION
Mundt’s study has useful applications such as highlighting the influences that contribute to the drinking behaviour of an adolescent which could be used to prevent underage drinking or excessive drinking in the future. This means alcohol intervention strategies can be designed, which include encouraging the person to select friendships carefully to minimise future drinking.
A03 negative point for conclusion
VALIDITY
The data analysed by Mundt was originally collected in the 90s and may not be representative of alcohol consumption in current American teenagers. For example, research suggests an increase in levels of binge drinking particularly in college students. This makes Mundt’s findings time-specific and less applicable to current trends in alcohol consumption.
