The Dare to Make a Choice Programme : exploring parental changes in knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Arts in Psychology at Massey University

Abstract

Overseas research has stressed the role that parents have to play in drug abuse prevention through modeling, values clarification, and communication. Dare to make a CHOICE involves parents through homework assignments. Previous evaluations of the programme had noted that some parents changed their behaviour and attitudes as a result of the programme. The purpose of this study was to further explore the changes that parents make as a result of Dare to make a CHOICE. The participants were 53 children and 100 parents from schools in Palmerston North who participated in the Dare to make a CHOICE programme. Only two of the seven hypotheses were supported by the results. Parents did not exhibit any changes in behaviour, attitudes or knowledge. Children's attitudes and behaviour was not related to that of their parents. It was concluded that persons who had changed their attitudes or behaviour in previous studies were influenced by other variables in addition to the programme. The results are discussed in relation to research looking at the roles of parents in drug education.