Measuring onset of 'caseness' in studies of stressful life events and alcohol abuse. Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • SummaryThe selection of criteria to operationalize concepts in empirical research is not an arbitrary process. Rather, it must be guided by the nature of the hypotheses being tested. Failure to do this will render the hypotheses themselves absurd. These points are discussed in relation to the particular demands of testing hypotheses concerning the relationship between life events and onset of alcohol abuse. It is argued that the alcohol dependence syndrome provides the most valid set of criteria for operationalizing the latter concept.

published proceedings

  • Br J Addict

author list (cited authors)

  • Gorman, D. M.

citation count

  • 10

complete list of authors

  • Gorman, DM

publication date

  • September 1987

publisher