Interesting report of an evaluation of the abstinence pledge programme in _ The Washington Post_ today:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp- dyn/content/article/2008/12/28/AR2008122801588.html\\ or http://tinyurl.com/9cchth The headline: "Premarital Abstinence Pledges Ineffective Study Finds Teenagers Who Make Such Promises Are Just as Likely to Have Sex, and Less Likely to Use Protection, the Data Indicate" But a spokesperson for the National Abstinence Education Association disputed the finding, claiming "It is remarkable that an author who employs rigorous research methodology would then compromise those standards by making wild, ideologically tainted and inaccurate analysis regarding the content of abstinence education programs". A critical question concerns the make-up of any control or contrast group, as those taking the virginity pledge undoubtedly differ in significant ways from those not, especially concerning attitudes towards sex and propensity for sexual behaviour (although the findings seem to indicate otherwise). I'd say that what is needed is to randomize teens to either an abstinence- only programme, or to a programme providing sex ed, and let the pregnancies fall where they may. Does any such research exist? Stephen ----------------------------------------------------------------- Stephen L. Black, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology, Emeritus Bishop's University e-mail: [email protected] 2600 College St. Sherbrooke QC J1M 1Z7 Canada Subscribe to discussion list (TIPS) for the teaching of psychology at http://flightline.highline.edu/sfrantz/tips/ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([email protected])
