Running head: EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL ON STUDENT ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE 1

Effects of Alcohol on Student Academic Performance

Jason Hayward
Northern Illinois University

Introductory Section

Title Page.1
Table of Contents.2
Main Body

I. Problem to be investigated
a. Purpose of the study.......4
EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL ON STUDENT ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE 2

b. Justification of the study4

c. Research question and hypothesis.7
d. Definition of terms.7
e. Brief overview of study.7
II. Background and review of related literature
a. Theory and background descriptions.8
b. Studies reviewed9
III. Procedures
a. Description of the research design...11
b. Description of the sample11
c. Description of the instruments.12
d. Explanation of the procedures followed..13
e. Description of internal validity13
f. Description of external validity...14
g. Description and justification of the statistical techniques or other methods of

analysis used14
IV. Ethics and human relations
a. Ethics and human relations....14
V. Timeline
a. Timeline...15
VI. References
a. References....16
 EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL ON STUDENT ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE 3

Effects of Alcohol on Student Academic Performance

Problem to Be Investigated
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to examine the alcohol consumption habits of college

students to determine if there is a relationship between alcohol abuse and student academic

achievement.
Justification
Many factors influence alcohol abuse on college campuses. According to the National

Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (2010), most students have had experiences with

alcohol prior to attending college, but certain aspects of college life, such as unstructured time,

the widespread availability of alcohol, inconsistent enforcement of underage drinking laws, and

limited interactions with parents and other adults can intensify the problem. In fact, college

students have higher binge-drinking rates and a higher incidence of drunk driving than their non-

college peers (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism).

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (2010) explains that heavy

drinking and alcohol related consequences often occur during the first six weeks of freshman

year due to student expectations and social pressures at the start of the academic year (National

Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism). Additionally, research indicates that environmental

factors on college campuses can influence student alcohol consumption. For instance, the

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (2010) states, Students attending schools
 EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL ON STUDENT ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE 4

with strong Greek systems and with prominent athletic programs tend to drink more than

students at other types of schools. In terms of living arrangements, alcohol consumption is

highest among students living in fraternities and sororities and lowest among commuting

students who live with their families (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism).
To further complicate the issue, according to Arthur Levine and Diane R. Dean (2012)

drinking and partying are simply what many college students are doing for fun. Levine and

Deane (2012) explain:

[...] student drinking most frequently occurs off campus in bars and student lodgings,

though Greek houses are also common venues. Students and senior student affairs

officers agree that on a majority of four-year campus party nights are Thursday,

commonly called Thirsty Thursday (56 percent of four-year schools and 35 percent of

two-year colleges), Friday (85 percent of four-year colleges and 75 percent of two-year

schools) (p.58).
The rise in recreational drinking among students both over and under the age of 21 is a major

problem on college campuses nationwide. It is important to note that, as Dean and Levine (2012)

explain, Everyone on campus can drink legally or illegally; colleges are awash in alcohol and

fake IDs. The problem is not so much underage drinking as it is how much students drink. Deans

of students describe binge drinking and alcohol abuse as the prime mental health issue on

campus (p. 58). If the problem is is the quantity of alcohol consumption, how bad can it really

be?
Binge drinking is on the rise on college campuses, and it is affecting college students

academically, socially, and mentally. According to Dean and Levine (2012), Nearly a quarter of

colleges and universities (24 percent) [...] report rises in binge drinking since 2001. Between

2008 and 2011, a quarter (23 percent) also experienced increases in alcohol consumption. A

majority of college students at four-year colleges (51 percent) think alcohol abuse is a serious
 EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL ON STUDENT ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE 5

problem on their campuses (p. 58). The rise in binge drinking on college campuses is leading to

other negative outcomes as well. For example, Dean and Levine (2012) explain:
Among college seniors, one in three (33 percent) say they missed a class because of

alcohol or drug use. More than a quarter report they drank alcohol heavily with the goal

of passing out (29 percent) and got lower grades on a course or assignment because of

alcohol or drug use (27 percent). More than one in five (23 percent) engaged in

unplanned or unprotected sex because of alcohol or drug use. And senior student affairs

officers indicate that the date rape cases they deal with overwhelmingly involve alcohol

(p. 60).
The consequences of alcohol abuse for college students are immense, and this will only continue

to rise, until student affairs professionals and college administrators discover better solutions to

address this increasing issue.

If minimizing alcohol abuse among college students is the desired outcome, then it is

important for student affairs professionals and college administrators to understand the reasons

why college students abuse alcohol in the first place. According to Dean and Levine (2012),

college students drink for many reasons:

Theres stress relief. A southern research university student affairs vice president told us,

They have high stress lives. These students work hard. They do extracurriculars. They

study a lot. They take heavy course loads. They will double, triple major. They will do

community services. And they self-medicate with alcohol in order to break out of that

multitasking, to be able to kick back and relax (p. 60).

Stress is often one of the major reasons students abuse alcohol during their time in college, but it

is not the only reason.

Dean and Levine (2012) explain that alcohol abuse in college is also influenced by

factors, such as the newfound sense of freedom a college student has when living away from

home for the first time, the desire to reduce social and sexual inhibitions, and peer pressure.
 EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL ON STUDENT ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE 6

Additionally, Louise A. Douce and Richard P. Keeling (2014) reaffirm the position that many

college students use alcohol to self-medicate, arguing, Behavioral issues such as binge drinking,

drug use, cutting and other self-injurious behaviors, eating disorders, pornography addiction, and

problematic gambling can all be understood as maladaptive strategies to reduce stress and

anxiety (Douce & Keeling). It is important for student affairs professionals and university

administrators to understand the factors that influence student drinking in order to promote the

best solutions available.

Research Question
Does alcohol abuse have an effect on students academic performance in college?
Hypothesis
Students who consume more alcohol, more frequently have lower GPAs and graduation rates

than students who consume less alcohol, less frequently.

Definitions
Alcohol abuse. Binge drinking is defined as five alcoholic drinks in a row for men, or four

drinks in a row for women, on a single occasion in a 2-week time frame (Magolda, P., 2011, p.

164).
Academic performance. A students GPA, a students ability to graduate with a degree, a

students class attendance, a students ability to pass courses, a students ability to achieve the

academic goals they set for themselves.

Brief Overview
This study will determine if there is a relationship between a college students drinking

tendencies and their academic performance in college. To determine this, a sample of college

students will be selected to participate in a survey that will examine their alcohol consumption

habits and their academic achievement.

Background and Review of Related Literature
Theory and Background Description
The consequences of alcohol abuse in college are many, and these consequences can often be

fatal. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (2015);
Each year an estimated 1,825 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die from alcohol

related unintentional injuries, including motor vehicle crashes.

 EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL ON STUDENT ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE 7

Each year an estimated 599,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are unintentionally

injured under the influence of alcohol.

Each year an estimated 696,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are assaulted by another

student who has been drinking.

Each year an estimated 97,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are victims of alcohol-

related sexual assault or date rape.

Each year an estimated 400,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 have unprotected sex,

and more than 100,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 report having been too

intoxicated to know if they consented to having sex.

About one-quarter of college students report having academic consequences because of their

drinking, including missing class, falling behind, and receiving lower grades overall.
Nineteen percent of college students between the ages of 18 and 24 met the criteria for an

alcohol use disorder, but only 5 percent of these students sought treatment for alcohol problems

in the year preceding the survey.

Each year an estimated 4,860,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 drive under the

influence of alcohol (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2015).

Studies Reviewed
The search terms that were used to collect related literature were: college alcohol

abuse, alcohol and academic performance in college, and alcoholism in college. These

search terms produced a wealth of research that were relevant to this study. Below are summaries

of literature that was found to be most relevant to this study.

Reducing the binge drinking culture on college campuses in the United States is no easy

feat. Many factors play into this problem, and solving it may often seem like an impossible

dream. However, if student affairs professionals and university administrators are willing to

review the solutions that are currently working to reduce alcohol abuse, and if they demonstrate a

willingness to combine those strategies with a more radical solution that could immensely impact

the culture of alcohol abuse on college campuses, significant progress can be a reality.
 EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL ON STUDENT ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE 8

Student affairs professionals and college administrators across the country have

attempted to reduce the negative impact of binge drinking in college through a combination of

prevention, intervention, and treatment strategies that target individual students, the student

body as a whole, and the broader college community (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and

Alcoholism). Strategies that target the individual student have had limited success. According to

the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, alcohol screenings and brief

intervention programs conducted in campus health centers evaluate and provide feedback about:

The risks of drinking, How these risks interfere with meeting their goals, How to monitor and

reduce drinking, and How to handle high-risk situations (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse

and Alcoholism). These programs that target individual students can be effective. However, the

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (2010) indicates, [...] 19 percent of college

students between the ages of 18 and 24 meet the criteria for alcohol abuse and dependence, but

only 5 percent of them seek treatment assistance (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and

Alcoholism). If students choose not to participate in these screenings and interventions, can they

really significantly change the culture of binge drinking on campuses nationwide?

Other strategies to minimize alcohol abuse among college students target the college

campus and the surrounding community as a whole. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and

Alcoholism (2010) explains, In combination with individually oriented interventions, strategies

that focus on the college environment are another key component of a comprehensive program.

These prevention efforts target the entire student body as well as the broader college community

and include strategies that: Provide alcohol education, Limit alcohol availability and enforce

under-age drinking laws, Provide alcohol-free campus activities, Notify parents of alcohol-

related infractions, and Adjust academic schedules to include more Friday classes and reduce the
 EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL ON STUDENT ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE 9

number of long weekends during the semester (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and

Alcoholism).
Other approaches target social-norms and focus on correcting student misperceptions

about how much their peers drink (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism).

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, [...] These approaches

may work best in individual and online applications, in which students receive personalized

feedback, but they are much less effective as part of campus-wide campaigns (National Institute

on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism).

Campus-community partnerships can be effective. The National Institute on Alcohol

Abuse and Alcoholism (2010) explains, With the involvement of campus administrators, local

law enforcement, merchants, residents, and local leaders, these partnerships address college

drinking through the application and consistent enforcement of community policies (National

Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism). The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and

Alcoholism (2010) explains, Effective campus-community partnership strategies can include:

Publicizing and enforcing underage-drinking and zero-tolerance laws for drivers under age 21,

Establishing partnerships between college and the local residential and business communities to

reduce access to alcohol and to address violations, and Increasing the price of alcohol

(National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism).

Procedures
Description of the Research Design
After considering the research question and hypothesis, the methodology of this study

will be a correlational research study. This research methodology is appropriate because a survey

will be used to examine if there is a correlation between college students drinking tendencies

and their academic performance in college. This research study will be beneficial for college

professors, administrators, students, and parents because alcohol abuse in college has become a

leading mental health issue on college campuses across the nation. When reviewing the literature
EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL ON STUDENT ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE 10

on this topic, it becomes clear that the issue of binge drinking in college is on the rise. Therefore,

it is more important than ever that we begin to examine this issue in more detail, in order to

provide the best support services for students who struggle with alcohol abuse in college.
Description of The Sample
The sample for this study will consist of college students from the age range of 18-22.

The sample will contain a mixture of both males and females. A balanced amount of males and

females is preferred for this study. This study will attempt to include a mixture of individuals

from different nationalities and ethnicities.

Simple random sampling will be used to collect data. Simple random sampling is most

appropriate for this study because it will allow the researcher to obtain a sample that is most

representative of college student populations at large. The size of the sample for this study will

be a total of 500 college students selected from both public and private universities across the

United States.
Description of The Instruments
In this study, the independent variable is the extent of the students alcohol consumption.

The dependent variable is the students academic achievement in college, such as GPA,

graduation status, and class attendance. The variables in this study outside of the independent

and dependent variables are ethnicity, gender, and the type of institution the student attends. The

validity and reliability of the results obtained by the survey, which will be the primary instrument

used in this study, will be addressed by making sure the survey has clear instructions and that it

is easy to read.
A survey is the instrument that will be utilized in this study. The survey will be completed

by all 500 participants in this study. The survey will ask students questions about their drinking

tendencies and academic achievement in college, such as: (1) How many alcoholic drinks have

you consumed in the last 30 days? (2) In the last 30 days, how many times have you consumed

more than 4-5 alcoholic drinks in one sitting? (3) In the last 30 days, have you missed a class
EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL ON STUDENT ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE 11

because of a hangover? The results from this survey will be converted into data that can be used

to examine the correlation between a students alcohol consumption and their academic

performance in college.
Explanation of the Procedures Followed
The participant sample of this study will be obtained by contacting public and private

universities across the nation for a list of students enrolled during the 2015-2016 school year. A

balanced number of random students will be obtained from all participating universities.

Students will then be contacted from these lists to determine if they are willing to participate in

this study. To encourage students to voluntarily participate in this study, it will be made clear that

participants will be paid $30 to compensate them for their participating in this research study.

The participants will complete the survey in a quiet testing room at the universities they attend.
Descriptions of Threats to Internal Validity
Internal validity threats to this study may include: mortality and willingness to provide

honest answers on the survey data collection instrument. Students may have to drop out of the

study for personal reasons. This threat to internal validity will be controlled by designating an

additional 50 students as backups that can be utilized in the event that students do not follow

through on their commitment to the study. The backups will be paid $10 regardless of whether or

not they are needed for the study or not. This will ensure that enough participants are available to

meet the 500 students this research study requires.

Additionally, the participants willingness to provide honest answers on the surveys may

impact the results of this study. If the students feel insecure about providing honest answers on

the survey, then the results of the data may be flawed. This threat to internal validity will be

attempted to control by ensuring students that the survey is completely anonymous and that there

will be no legal ramifications for their answers on the survey.

Description of External Validity
The results of this study will be generalizable to all college students between the ages of

18-22 who are attending a public or private institution. This study is generalizable because it will
EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL ON STUDENT ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE 12

examine the drinking behaviors and academic achievement of a diverse student population,

through the methodology of random sampling. The size of the research sample will enable the

researcher to make general conclusions that apply to all college students across the United States.
Description and Justification of the Statistical Techniques or Other Methods of Analysis

Used
In my descriptive study, descriptive statistics for the quantitative data from survey

questions, such as the participants age, number of classes the participant missed because of a

hangover, number of times the participant vomited after drinking, number of times the

participant consumed more than five drinks in one sitting, etc., will be summarized using mean,

median, and standard deviation. This data will be displayed using boxplots and a histogram.

Categorical variables, such as the negative effects of drinking on the students academic

achievement will be summarized using frequencies, percentages and a pie chart.

Ethics and Human Relations
One threat to this study is that participants may be unwilling to be completely honest

about their alcohol consumption behaviors, particularly students who are under the legal drinking

age. This threat can be controlled by notifying participants in advance that answering the survey

questions honestly is essential to the accuracy of the study. If students are not comfortable

disclosing this information, they will be asked to not participate in the research study.

Additionally, participants will be notified that the survey results will be completely anonymous,

and their results will be kept confidential.

Entry to Data Collection Setting
This will be achieved through the aid of university faculty and staff. Participant

information will be accessed through the university offices of Records & Registration.
Cooperation of Research Participants
Cooperation of the research participants will be obtained by paying participants $30 for

their time and participation. It will be specified that all data from this research study will be kept
EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL ON STUDENT ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE 13

confidential. Additionally, the location in which the surveys are administered will be a

convenient space for the research participants.

Time Line
The timeline for this study will be one year. At the beginning of the fall semester, the

instrument will be designed, and the sample will be collected. By December, the sample will be

collected. In January, the participants who have agreed to the study will be contacted and

instructed on how to begin their participation. By March, participants will begin completing their

surveys. The survey will take a month to complete. By April, data analysis will begin. In June, all

of the data analysis will be complete. By July, the results of this research will be finalized for a

research committee.

References
Douce, L., & Keeling, R. (n.d.). A Strategic Primer on College Student Mental Health.
Levine, A., & Dean, D. (2012). Generation on a tightrope: A portrait of today's college student
(Third ed.). San Francisco: Jossey.
Magolda, P. (2011). If Curbing Alcohol Abuse on College Campuses is an Impossible
N.A. (2015, April). National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. College Drinking.