Cheryl J. Polson

Reasons for drug use: comparison of drug users and abusers.

A paired sample of 48 subjects, matched in sex, marital status, residence, and socioeconomic status, was divided into two groups, drug users and drug abusers. Each subject was interviewed about his motivation for drug use. His responses were taped, transcribed, and coded. Analysis showed that drug users were more likely to use drugs for recreational purposes, while drug abusers used drugs to cope with an external locus of control, a low self-concept, feelings of disillusion, and personal stresses. Both groups used drugs to escape, seek personal identity, and rebel against authority. The discussion emphasized that drug users and abusers have different motivations for drug-taking and must be considered as two distinct groups.

A Factor and Cluster Analysis of the Perceived Institutional Context of Academic Advising.

Data from the 1992 membership survey were analyzed based on two ideas: advisors can report their perceptions of their work environments, and these perceptions vary across the NACADA membership. Fir...

The Impact of Administrative Support and Institutional Type on Adult Learner Services.

The study described examined the scope of existing services for adult learners enrolled in higher education today. Two analyses were performed, one to review the effect of institutional type on services provided and the second to understand the impact of perceived administrative support on efforts to serve this student population. The implications of the findings for academic advisors are addressed.