Validity of Self-Reports of Alcohol-Related Arrests by Alcoholics

Author(s)

Mark B. Sobell, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Linda C. Sobell, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Fred H. Samuels

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol

ISSN

0033-5649

Publication Date

3-1974

Abstract

Obtained and compared the number of arrests for public drunkenness and driving while intoxicated from self-reports of 70 hospitalized male alcoholics with official arrest records. Ss reported a total of 548 arrests; the official number was 451. The reports of 26 Ss were accurate, 27 Ss overreported, and 17 underreported their arrests. The correlation between self-reports and official records was .65. Arrests for public drunkenness were accurately reported by 24 of 62 Ss, overreported by 22, and underreported by 16; the corresponding numbers of arrests for drunken driving were 39, 9, and 14.

Volume

35

Issue

1-A

First Page

276

Last Page

280

NSUWorks Citation

Sobell, M. B., Sobell, L. C., Samuels, F. H. (1974). Validity of Self-Reports of Alcohol-Related Arrests by Alcoholics. Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 35(1-A), 276-280.
Available at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cps_facarticles/25