Going to the source : a survey of A.A. members about A.A.

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dc.contributor.authorBenson, Robert Kennethen_US
dc.date.accessioned2024-08-13T00:08:06Z
dc.date.available2024-08-13T00:08:06Z
dc.date.copyright1998en_US
dc.date.issued1998
dc.degree.departmentDepartment of Psychological Foundations in Education
dc.degree.departmentDepartment of Educational Psychology and Leadership Studies
dc.degree.levelMaster of Arts M.A.en
dc.description.abstractThis study undertook to measure the knowledge, attitude and beliefs of members of Alcoholics Anonymous about the program of AA, an approach rarely encountered in the literature. One hundred and thirteen members responded to a questionnaire, and there was found to be a high degree of program knowledge, as tested by questions taken from AA literature. Belief in the efficacy of AA by AA members was also high, as measured by compliance with the various suggestions which the program makes to its members, with one question achieving a 100% score. Attitudes about AA were generally positive. This study is consistent with the current trend in aJcoholism research, that of gathering data on matching the client to the treatment. This survey identified what could be an impediment to recovery which has not been previously identified, according to a search of the literature. In the overall results, the related Steps Six and Seven of the program, when taken together, were reported to be more "difficult" than Step Four. Step Four receives a great deal of attention and assistance, both in and outside the AA program, and in the literature, because of its demands for self-knowledge. Steps Six and Seven, by contrast, are largely taken for granted. This study suggests that the reason for the reported difficulty may relate to a perceived threat to the identity of the client. Recommendations are made for further research on this and other subjects of this study. The questionnaire also identified AA members who have previously received other types of treatment for alcoholism, and who are currently receiving such therapy. There was found to be sufficient evidence to conclude that AA alone is treatment enough for some members, while others (23%) require additional therapy. The results of this survey study are similar to those of the 1996 AA Triennial Survey, where similar demographic questions occur.
dc.format.extent87 pages
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1828/17222
dc.rightsAvailable to the World Wide Weben_US
dc.titleGoing to the source : a survey of A.A. members about A.A.en_US
dc.typeThesisen_US

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