This article was downloaded by: [New York University] On: 21 February 2015, At: 10:14 Publisher: Routledge Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK
Multivariate Behavioral Research Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/hmbr20
BRIEF REPORT: RELATIONSHIPS OF CIGARETTE SMOKING TO ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, COGNITIVE ABILITIES, AND ATTITUDES TOWARD AUTHORITY DONALD J. VELDMAN & OLIVER H. BOWN Published online: 10 Jun 2010.
To cite this article: DONALD J. VELDMAN & OLIVER H. BOWN (1968) BRIEF REPORT: RELATIONSHIPS OF CIGARETTE SMOKING TO ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, COGNITIVE ABILITIES, AND ATTITUDES TOWARD AUTHORITY, Multivariate Behavioral Research, 3:4, 513-517, DOI: 10.1207/s15327906mbr0304_11 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1207/s15327906mbr0304_11
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content. This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http:// www.tandfonline.com/page/terms-and-conditions
BRIEF REPORT :
I
Downloaded by [New York University] at 10:14 21 February 2015
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RELATIONSHIPS OF CIGARETTE SMOKING TO ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, COGNITIVE ABILITIES, AND ATTITUDES TOWARD AUTHORITY' DONALD J. VELDMAN and OLIVER H. BOWN The University of Texas at Austin
ABSTRACT Published research has linked cigarette smoking with (1) inferior academic performance, (2) lower quantitative scholastic aptitude, and (3) negative attitude toward authority figures. Using data from 2315 freshmen (1368 males and 967 females), these three relationships were confirmed. Furthermore, analyses of covariance clearly demonstrated that neither scholastic aptitude nor attitudes toward authority-although themselves related to academic performane-ould account for the relationship between cigarette smoking and grade-point average.
r
1
A negative relationship between cigarette smoking and academic performance has been noted by a number of investigators. For instance, a recent study by Pumroy (1967) demonstrated a linear relationship between amount of cigarette smoking and (1) grade-point average and (2) probability of dropping out of college, for a sample of male freshmen. He attributed this relationship to negative attitudes toward parents and authority on the part of the smokers, although no attitude data were provided. An earlier study by Baer (1966) included the finding that cigarette smokers (former and current) obtained significantly lower scores on the mathematical. portion of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). This Buggests the hypothesis that the lower academic performance of smokers is due to their generally lower aptitudes rather than to smoking, per se. The present investigation is intended to provide more definitive analyses of the relationship between cigarette smoking and academic achievement, as a function of abilities and attitudes toward parents and other authority figures. 1. This investigation was supported by a grant from the Excellence Fund of the University of Texas a t Austin. OCTQBER, 1968
513
-.
PROCEDURE
Data for the present study were obtained during the Fall, 1963, semester as part of an institutional research project at the University of Texas at Austin. A total of 2315 subjects (1358 males and 957 females) provided data on the following variables: (1) Grade-Point Average (G) Grade-point averages (3-point scale) for the initial semester were obtained from central university records. (2) Cigarette Smoking (S). This was operationally defined by responses t o a check-list item (‘‘-.-smoke cigarettes every day”) on an autobiographical information form. Although considerable variation in intensity is possible, habituation can be assumed from a positive response. ( 3 ) (4) Cognitive Abilities. The verbal (V) and quantitative (Q) scores from the Scholastic Aptitude Test were obtained from the files of the University Testing and Counseling Center. ( 5 ) (6) Attitude toward Authority (A) and Attitude toward Parents (P) were measured by two scales from the Self-Report Inventory (Bown, 1961). Parallel series of analyses were completed with the male and female samples. After intercorrelation of the six variables, multiple regression procedures were used to test hypotheses. Computational methods are described elsewhere in detail (Veldman, 1967).
Downloaded by [New York University] at 10:14 21 February 2015
.
RESULTS Table 1 contains the means, sigmas, and intercorrelations of the six variables. The correlations for the male sample appear Table 1 Means and Intercorrelations for Male (N=1368) and Female (N=967) Samplesa
G S V
Q
A
P
x* -X,
G
S
-
-.20b
-.20 .48 .46 .06 .08
-
V .40 -.01
-.04
-
-.12 -.07
.61
-.07
-.09
--.06
Q .46
-.07 .46
-
.03 -.01
1.17 .19 620 668 1.22 .16 611 497 aValues for males top right; for females lower left. bFor r>.06, p.08, p
Multivariate Behavioral Research Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/hmbr20
BRIEF REPORT: RELATIONSHIPS OF CIGARETTE SMOKING TO ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, COGNITIVE ABILITIES, AND ATTITUDES TOWARD AUTHORITY DONALD J. VELDMAN & OLIVER H. BOWN Published online: 10 Jun 2010.
To cite this article: DONALD J. VELDMAN & OLIVER H. BOWN (1968) BRIEF REPORT: RELATIONSHIPS OF CIGARETTE SMOKING TO ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, COGNITIVE ABILITIES, AND ATTITUDES TOWARD AUTHORITY, Multivariate Behavioral Research, 3:4, 513-517, DOI: 10.1207/s15327906mbr0304_11 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1207/s15327906mbr0304_11
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content. This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http:// www.tandfonline.com/page/terms-and-conditions
BRIEF REPORT :
I
Downloaded by [New York University] at 10:14 21 February 2015
>
RELATIONSHIPS OF CIGARETTE SMOKING TO ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, COGNITIVE ABILITIES, AND ATTITUDES TOWARD AUTHORITY' DONALD J. VELDMAN and OLIVER H. BOWN The University of Texas at Austin
ABSTRACT Published research has linked cigarette smoking with (1) inferior academic performance, (2) lower quantitative scholastic aptitude, and (3) negative attitude toward authority figures. Using data from 2315 freshmen (1368 males and 967 females), these three relationships were confirmed. Furthermore, analyses of covariance clearly demonstrated that neither scholastic aptitude nor attitudes toward authority-although themselves related to academic performane-ould account for the relationship between cigarette smoking and grade-point average.
r
1
A negative relationship between cigarette smoking and academic performance has been noted by a number of investigators. For instance, a recent study by Pumroy (1967) demonstrated a linear relationship between amount of cigarette smoking and (1) grade-point average and (2) probability of dropping out of college, for a sample of male freshmen. He attributed this relationship to negative attitudes toward parents and authority on the part of the smokers, although no attitude data were provided. An earlier study by Baer (1966) included the finding that cigarette smokers (former and current) obtained significantly lower scores on the mathematical. portion of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). This Buggests the hypothesis that the lower academic performance of smokers is due to their generally lower aptitudes rather than to smoking, per se. The present investigation is intended to provide more definitive analyses of the relationship between cigarette smoking and academic achievement, as a function of abilities and attitudes toward parents and other authority figures. 1. This investigation was supported by a grant from the Excellence Fund of the University of Texas a t Austin. OCTQBER, 1968
513
-.
PROCEDURE
Data for the present study were obtained during the Fall, 1963, semester as part of an institutional research project at the University of Texas at Austin. A total of 2315 subjects (1358 males and 957 females) provided data on the following variables: (1) Grade-Point Average (G) Grade-point averages (3-point scale) for the initial semester were obtained from central university records. (2) Cigarette Smoking (S). This was operationally defined by responses t o a check-list item (‘‘-.-smoke cigarettes every day”) on an autobiographical information form. Although considerable variation in intensity is possible, habituation can be assumed from a positive response. ( 3 ) (4) Cognitive Abilities. The verbal (V) and quantitative (Q) scores from the Scholastic Aptitude Test were obtained from the files of the University Testing and Counseling Center. ( 5 ) (6) Attitude toward Authority (A) and Attitude toward Parents (P) were measured by two scales from the Self-Report Inventory (Bown, 1961). Parallel series of analyses were completed with the male and female samples. After intercorrelation of the six variables, multiple regression procedures were used to test hypotheses. Computational methods are described elsewhere in detail (Veldman, 1967).
Downloaded by [New York University] at 10:14 21 February 2015
.
RESULTS Table 1 contains the means, sigmas, and intercorrelations of the six variables. The correlations for the male sample appear Table 1 Means and Intercorrelations for Male (N=1368) and Female (N=967) Samplesa
G S V
Q
A
P
x* -X,
G
S
-
-.20b
-.20 .48 .46 .06 .08
-
V .40 -.01
-.04
-
-.12 -.07
.61
-.07
-.09
--.06
Q .46
-.07 .46
-
.03 -.01
1.17 .19 620 668 1.22 .16 611 497 aValues for males top right; for females lower left. bFor r>.06, p.08, p
