1) Analyze scholarly research aimed at informing public policy
2) Correctly interpret and synthesize results of complex statistical analysis
3) Think creatively about how changes to research design could impact findings
4) Discuss how research findings inform decision making and problem-solving
1) What is the main question that the article is attempting to answer? USE YOUR OWN WORDS (1 paragraph please).
The main question the article is seeking to answer is whether policies based on deterrence theory are effective against drunk-driving. It seeks to test the behavioral assumptions underlying the use of deterrence theory towards drinking and driving and seeks to establish the extent to which these public policies are significant.
2) How do social definitions of behavior such as deviant and “sinful” affect the choice of policy to address those behaviors? USE YOUR OWN WORDS (1 paragraph).
Social definitions of behavior using words such as deviant and sinful are likely to result in the enactment of policies that are punitive. Law enforcement agencies are more likely to implement sanctions aimed at discouraging such behavior. However, the punitive policies are less likely to be successful and hence alternative approaches should be considered when making the decisions on the policies to use.
II. Interpretation of Statistical Analysis
The main variables of interest for the authors are two dummy variables:
• Occasional drink-driver: =1 if an occasional drink-driver, 0 otherwise (base case is never drink-driver)
• Frequent drink-driver: =1 if a frequent drink-driver, 0 otherwise (base case is never drink-driver)
Table 1: Please refer to Table 1 for the following questions:
Table 1: BAC Model
1) What is the dependent variable in this model? Please tell me what the coding is. i.e. =1 if……., 0 otherwise.
knows the legal BAC: =1 if knows the legal BAC levels; 0 otherwise
