conversation2e

	In Process
	Making Judgments

For his evaluation of approaches to reducing college drinking, Dwight Haynes selected two criteria: the overall effectiveness of programs that used a particular approach and the effort required to create programs based on an approach. To sort through his notes and decide what information would best support his evaluation, he created a table that identified possible evidence for his criteria as they applied to two competing approaches and then made preliminary judgments about each approach.

Approach	Criterion	Evidence	Judgment
Social norms	Effort	Relatively low effort. Turner says it focuses on marketing and education, using ads on Facebook, campus posters, etc.	Easy to start and maintain without tons of work.
	Effectiveness	Some research raises concerns about effectiveness (Wechsler et al.), but DeJong et al. found it associated with lower perceptions of student drinking levels and lower alcohol consumption.	Effective. Good choice for smaller schools or those without the resources for another approach.
Environmental	Effort	Larger and more ambitious than social norms programs. Includes collaborations with local law enforcement agencies, the local business community, and local health care providers (Weitzman et al.).	Complex, but justified by effectiveness.
	Effectiveness	Effective because it addresses more of the factors involved in student drinking (Weitzman et al. and Dowdall interview).	Most effective.