Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis explores the existence of misperceptions regarding the peer‐drinking norm among
undergraduate students at Stellenbosch University and the role of these misperceptions in
explaining students’ drinking behaviour. A more permissive perception of the drinking norm has
been associated with heavier alcohol consumption and negative consequences for oneself, others
and property. Perceptions of the academic norm and its relation to personal academic and
drinking behaviour are also investigated. Furthermore, the study examines the role of perceptions
of the drinking norm in personal drinking behaviour in the context of other cognitive factors
(perceptions), experiences prior to enrolling at university, as well as socio‐demographic and
contextual factors. The theoretical framework used to understand the origin, occurrence and
perpetuation of misperceptions regarding the social norm includes Bourdieu’s theory of habitus,
social norms theory, social learning theory and attribution theory. Data were collected from 640
students out of a random sample of 3 177 who had been invited to participate in a web‐based
survey during September 2009. In addition, 18 personal semi‐structured interviews were
conducted with students.
Similar to findings of research in other countries, the results of this research show that students at
Stellenbosch University tend to perceive other students’ drinking behaviour (descriptive norm)
and approval of drinking behaviour (injunctive norm) as more permissive than their own. The
degree of misperception increases as the social distance of reference groups increases and is also
significantly related to personal alcohol consumption. There is also evidence of misperceptions
regarding the academic norm and its association with personal drinking behaviour and academic
behaviour. Multiple regression analysis reveals that the perceived drinking norm of close friends is
the best predictor of personal drinking behaviour, followed by personal approval of drinking and
drinking behaviour during the last year of high school.
The data presented here for Stellenbosch University students extend the evidence that peer
drinking norms are misperceived and highlights the importance of a student’s experiences before
enrolling at university. Furthermore, it provides evidence that misperceiving the drinking norm is a
pervasive problem that may have behavioural consequences. Various American higher education
institutions have developed and implemented campaigns aimed at correcting these
misperceptions. This has resulted in significant reductions in misperceptions as well as in heavy
drinking among students. Students at Stellenbosch University and elsewhere might also benefit
from these types of intervention strategies. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis ondersoek die bestaan van wanpersepsies aangaande die portuurgroep‐drinknorm
onder voorgraadse studente aan Universiteit Stellenbosch en die rol daarvan in die verduideliking
van studente se drinkgedrag. ’n Meer liberale persepsie van die drinknorm hou verband met
swaarder alkoholgebruik en meer negatiewe gevolge vir die persoon self, ander en eiendom. Die
studie ondersoek ook persepsies van die akademiese norm en die verband daarvan met
persoonlike akademiese en drinkgedrag. Verder word die rol van persepsies van die drinknorm in
persoonlike alkoholgebruik in die konteks van ander bewussynsfaktore (persepsies), ervarings
voor inskrywing by die universiteit, asook sosiaal‐demografiese en kontekstuele faktore
ondersoek. Die studie maak gebruik van die teoretiese raamwerke van Bourdieu se habitus, sosiale
norm‐teorie, sosiale leer‐teorie en attributasieteorie om die oorsprong, aanwesigheid en
voortsetting van wanpersepsies te verstaan. Data is versamel onder 640 studente uit ’n
ewekansige steekproef van 3 177 studente wat uitgenooi was om gedurende September 2009 aan
’n webgebaseerde opname deel te neem. Daar is ook 18 in‐diepte semi‐gestruktureerde
onderhoude met studente gevoer.
Soortgelyk aan bevindinge van navorsing in ander lande, toon resultate van hierdie navorsing dat
studente aan Universiteit Stellenbosch geneig is om ander studente se drinkgedrag (beskrywende
norm) en goedkeuring van alkoholverbruik (injunktiewe norm) as meer liberaal as hulle eie waar te
neem. Die graad van wanpersepsie neem toe namate die sosiale afstand van verwysingsgroepe
toeneem en hou ook betekenisvol verband met persoonlike alkoholgebruik. Daar is ook bewyse
van wanpersepsies aangaande die akademiese norm en die verband daarvan met persoonlike
drink‐ en akademiese gedrag. Resultate van ’n meervoudige regressie‐ontleding wys dat die
waargenome drinknorm van goeie vriende die beste voorspeller van persoonlike drinkgedrag is,
gevolg deur persoonlike goedkeuring van alkoholgebruik en drinkgedrag gedurende die laaste jaar
van hoërskool.
Die data van Stellenbosse studente lewer verder bewys dat portuurgroep‐drinknorme verkeerdelik
waargeneem word en beklemtoon die belangrikheid van studente se vorige ervarings. Dit bewys
ook dat die verkeerde waarneming van die drinknorm ’n konstante probleem is wat
gedragsgevolge kan hê. Verskeie Amerikaanse universiteite het al veldtogte ontwikkel en
geïmplementeer gemik op die regstel van dié wanpersepsies, en dit het wanpersepsies en swaar
drankgebruik onder studente betekenisvol verminder. Studente aan Universiteit Stellenbosch en
elders sal waarskynlik ook by soortgelyke intervensiestrategieë baat vind. / jfl2011 / Imported from http://etd.sun.ac.za
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/6499 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Tolken, Johnnie Eigelaar |
| Contributors | Vorster, Jan H., University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Sociology and Social Anthropology. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 164, lvii p. |
| Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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