Brief Alcohol E-Interventions Study

The proposed project seeks to develop a maximally effective computer-delivered brief
intervention (CDBI) for reducing heavy alcohol use. To accomplish this, we will use the
Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST), an efficient method for optimizing intervention
content, beginning with factorial designs evaluating main and interaction effects of specific
intervention components. Our selection of components will be guided by: (a) Common Factors
Theory, which highlights the tremendous contribution of non-specific factors, such as empathy
and positive regard, to therapy outcomes, but which is of unknown relevance to CDBIs; and (b)
Media Equation Theory, which suggests that people automatically respond to computers in
social ways, particularly when those computers replicate human characteristics. To accomplish
these goals, we will examine outcomes of computer-delivered brief interventions in which
common factors (empathy & positive regard), use of a voice, and use of an animated narrator
are systematically manipulated using a factorial design. We will also systematically
manipulate the presence vs. absence of motivational content in order to examine possible
interactions between common factors and specific motivational techniques. Participants will
be 352 undergraduates who are randomly assigned to 1 of 16 intervention conditions. Mean
drinks per day over the past 30 days will be measured at 1 and 3-month follow-ups. Secondary
analyses will also examine past month heavy drinking days, alcohol-related consequences, and
intention to reduce alcohol use. We hypothesize that there will be significant main effects
for (1) the factor consistent with Common Factors Theory (empathy and positive regard), (2)
the two factors consistent with Media Equation Theory (voice and narrator), and (3) the
presence of motivational content. We further hypothesize that mean drinks/day will be lower
when (1) the common factors (empathy, positive regard) are combined with a voice and/or
narrator or (2) motivational content is combined with common factors and/or a voice/narrator.

Inclusion Criteria:

Participants must be students at Wayne State University, aged 18 or older. Additionally,
participants must report either (1) consuming 3 (women)/4 (men) drinks per day or 7
(women)/14 (men) drinks per week, (2) getting drunk at least once per week over the past 6
months or (3) binge drinking at least once per week over the past 6 months (i.e. more than
4 (women)/5 (men) drinks in a 2 hr. period).

Exclusion Criteria:

Individuals who are under the age of 18, or who do not meet the study's drinking criteria