Master's Theses

Department

Psychology

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to assess the ability of the Tiffany Control Scales (TCS) to differentiate between those persons at risk and those persons not at risk for alcohol related problems in their lives. Recent literature indicates there is no adequate screening tool or clinical instrument that does not contain some fundamental different samples (e.g., clinical vs. normal), (b) distinguishing between the sexes, or (c) psychometric weaknesses (e.g., reliability and error rates). A pilot study, conducted by the author, indicated that the TCS was an instrument that could be an accurate discriminator across samples, between sexes, and with a low error rate. A more in-depth assessment was warranted by the results of the pilot study. A historically relevant, and more recent theoretical view of alcohol use and abuse was reviewed, with an emphasis on an interactionist paradigm within which the TCS fits well. The interactionist view point is that people are active and effective participants in a non-deterministic world: A world in which physiological make-up, ecological and environmental influences, and personality variables influence behavior. Data, in the form of responses on the TCS, was gathered from three sources and submitted to discriminant analysis. This, analysis, it was hypothesized, would yield information and about clinically significant personality characteristics that might aid in assessment and treatment for alcohol abuse and alcoholism.

Keywords

Psychology

Advisor

Phyllis G. Tiffany

Date of Award

Spring 1989

Document Type

Thesis - campus only access

Rights

© The Author(s)

Comments

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