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 Date

3-1974

Publication Title

Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol

Volume

35

Issue/Number

1-A

First Page

276

ISSN

0033-5649

Last Page

280

Abstract/Excerpt

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.

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