University Life Study
Study Overview
The University Life Study (ULS) is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The purpose of the study is to better understand what life is like for students at the Pennsylvania State University (Penn State).
The aims of the study are to:
- Track developmental trajectories of student attitudes, behaviors, and how they link together across time.
- Model links between attitudes and behaviors on a daily basis.
- Identify predictors of attitudes and behaviors, and their co-variation
- Stable person-level (e.g., gender, ethnicity, family background)
- Developmentally-changing (e.g., goals, relationship status)
- Situationally-fluctuating (e.g., affect, stress, campus events)
Methods
In the fall of 2007, a sample of first-year students at Penn State will be asked to participate in this longitudinal, web-based study. Those who agree will be asked to complete a baseline survey and a series of 14 short daily surveys. The same students will be invited to participate in similar surveys subsequent semesters.
Study procedures and surveys will be piloted with a smaller sample of Penn State freshmen during the spring 2007 semester.
Related Publications
Schulenberg, J., & Maggs, J. L. (2002). A developmental perspective on alcohol use and heavy drinking during adolescence and the transition to young adulthood. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, Supplement No. 14, 54-70. [PDF]
Project Team
- Jennifer Maggs, Ph.D.
- Principal Investigator
- Associate Professor of
- Human Development and Family Studies
- The Pennsylvania State University
- JMAGGS@psu.edu
- 814 865 2028
- Eva Lefkowitz, Ph.D.
- Co-Investigator
- Human Development and Family Studies
- The Pennsylvania State University
- EXL20@psu.edu
- 814 863 7005
- Meg Small, Ph.D.
- Managing Investigator
- Research Associate
- Penn State Prevention Research Center
- MXS693@psu.edu
- 814 865 5207