This research compared real-time measurements of alcohol consumption with retrospective accounts of alcohol consumption to examine possible discrepancies between, and contextual influences on, the different accounts. Building on previous investigations, a specifically designed Smartphone technology was utilized to measure alcohol consumption and contextual influences in de facto real-time. Real-time data (a total of 10,560 data points relating to type and number of drinks and current social / environmental context) were compared with daily and weekly retrospective accounts of alcohol consumption. Participants reported consuming more alcoholic drinks during real-time assessment than retrospectively. For daily accounts a higher number of drinks consumed in real-time was related to a higher discrepancy between real-time and retrospective accounts. This effect was found across all drink types but was not shaped by social and environmental contexts. Higher in-vivo alcohol consumption appeared to be related to a higher discrepancy in retrospectively reported weekly consumption for alcohol beverage types other than wine. When including contextual factors into the statistical models, being with two or more friends (as opposed to being alone) decreased the discrepancy between real-time and retrospective reports, whilst being in the pub (relative to being at home) was associated with greater discrepancies. Overall, retrospective accounts may underestimate the amount of actual, real-time alcohol consumed. Increased consumption may also exacerbate differences between real-time and retrospective accounts. Nonetheless, this is not a global effect as environmental and social contexts interact with the type of alcohol consumed and the time frame given for reporting (weekly vs. daily retrospective). A degree of caution therefore appears warranted with regards to the use of retrospective self-report methods of recording alcohol consumption. Whilst real-time sampling is unlikely to be completely error free, it may be better able to account for social and environmental influences on self-reported consumption.

To assess the validity of the research into alcohol-related outcome expectancies a systematic review of 80 articles published between 1970 and 2013 was conducted. Participant gender, age, and contextual influences are highlighted as possible causes of the observed variations in research findings. There is a need for fuller consideration of the influences of demographics and environmental and social contexts on research findings. It is recommended that alcohol intake measures should be standardized to a greater degree in future research. Contextual influences on expectancies also require extensive future investigation to increase the validity of research and improve alcohol-related interventions. Pour évaluer la validité de la recherche sur des attentes de résultats liés à l'alcool. Une revue systématique de 80 articles publiés entre 1970 et 2012 a été réalisée. Influences du genre du participant, âge et contextuels sont mis en évidence les causes possibles des variations observées dans les résultats de recherche. Il est nécessaire de mieux prendre en compte les influences de la démographie et des contextes sociaux et environnementaux sur les résultats de recherche. Il est recommandé que les mesures de la consommation d'alcool devrait être normalisée à un degré plus élevé dans les recherches futures. Influences contextuelles sur l'espérance exigent également une vaste enquête avenir pour augmenter la validité de la recherche et d'améliorer les interventions liées à l'alcool. Mots-clés: alcool, l'espérance, Contexte, sexe, âge Para evaluar la validez de la investigación sobre las expectativas de los resultados relacionados con el alcohol, se condujo una revisión sistemática de 80 artículos publicados entre 1970 y 2012. El genero de los participantes, su edad y las influencias contextuales se destacan como posibles causas de las variaciones observadas en los resultados de la investigación. Existe la necesidad de un examen más amplio de la influencia de la demografía y los contextos ambientales y sociales en los resultados de la investigación. Se necesita hacer una evaluación más completa de la influencia de los aspectos demográficos y de los contextos ambientales y sociales en los resultados de la investigación. Se recomienda que las medidas del consumo de alcohol estén estandarizadas en mayor grado para futuras investigaciones. Las influencias contextuales en las expectativas también requieren de una investigación mas extensiva en el futuro, para incrementar validez y mejorar las intervenciones relacionadas con el alcohol. Palabras clave: Alcohol, la esperanza, el contexto, género, edad

Theory of mind (ToM), the ability to understand that other agents have different beliefs, desires, and knowledge than oneself, has been extensively researc

Previous research has suggested that the calculation of another’s perspective is cognitively efficient, whereas perspective selection (selection of a particular perspective, self or other) is...

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of environmental contexts on alcohol norms, expectancies, and efficacy ratings. University students (n = 177) recruited via opportunity sampling completed questionnaires in either university lecture theaters or in a student bar. Positive social, fun, and tension reduction outcome expectancies were higher and social drink refusal self efficacy was lower in those participants questioned in a student bar relative to those questioned in a university lecture theater. These differences were found while controlling for between-groups variations in typical alcohol consumption quantities. Although hitherto largely unexamined by research, context appears to be a potentially important moderator of alcohol-related cognitions. Such findings require further exploration to inform more effective intervention approaches and have implications for the validity of existing literature.