Multidimensional scaling and concept mapping: The middle school student’s view of ATOD & violence prevention

The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

3284.0: Monday, November 11, 2002 - Board 7

Abstract #44840

James P. Griffin, PhD¹, James E. Springfield, MA², Kelvin Walston², Melanie Sheffey², and Elleen Yancey, PhD². (1) Community Health and Preventive Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, 720 Westview Drive, S.W., Atlanta, GA 30310, (404) 752-1905, griffij@msm.edu, (2) Prevention Research Center, Morehouse School of Medicine, 777 Cleveland Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30315

Investigators analyzed focus group responses from 8th grade African-American intervention students in an alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs (ATOD) and violence prevention group. Respondents attended a randomly controlled, universal, curriculum-based intervention—the BRAVE Program (Building Resiliency And Vocational Excellence). The purpose was to see if a new evaluation method identified key career-oriented program components (e.g., prosocial skills, goal setting, and teamwork). Using multidimensional scaling, researchers used 75 student focus group statements to reveal helpful training clusters. Twenty-three students listed nine clusters: Manhood and Womanhood Development, Affective Response, Self-Control, Goal Setting, Strategies for Survival, Training Methods and Needs of the Program, Violence Prevention, Career Aspiration, and Substance Abuse. This process assessment was heuristic and promising for theory development and statistical modeling.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of the learning activity, participants will

• List five steps in a formative assessment methodology for assessing the fidelity of a career-oriented ATOD and violence prevention intervention for minority students.
• List four characteristics that students identified as being essential components for career-oriented alcohol, tobacco, and other drug and violence prevention.
• Describe the two ways that the research methodology presented in the study can foster ATOD and violence prevention among middle school students in urban environments.
• Correctly define the two terms, multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis, and describe their role in Concept Mapping.

Keywords: Adolescent Health, Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Morehouse School of Medicine, Community Health and Preventive Medicine
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Alcohol and Other Drug Use among Teens: Environmental and Resilience Factors Poster Session

The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA