2. +
Our Objectives
Objectives: Participants will be able to
1.Describe Intervening Variables (IV's)
and Contributing Factors (CF's), and
how they are used in the GASPS
process?
2.Discuss IV’s and CF’s with community
partners and key stakeholders, i.e.
CPAW, Coalition link persons
3. +
Understanding
Community Problems.
• The Needs Assessment process helps
establish the what, who, how much,
when, where and why.
• A comprehensive needs assessment
should cover each of these data points
to help formulate and understand the
ATOD problem in a given community.
• Once we understand the what, how-
much, when and where, we need to
know why. Why is the particular ATOD
problem occurring? This is where IVs
and CF's come in.
4. + Intervening Variables (IV)
and Contributing Factors
(CF)
• Intervening Variables (IV) can be thought of as the why(s) or
facilitator(s) of the use that is causing the problem in your
community. The (CF) or Contributing Factors outline the more
particular circumstances that the use is occurring.
• Example: The reason that 30% of 16yo are using alcohol in our
community is that the availability of alcohol is high. Students are
able to purchase beer from the convenience stores because the
clerk does not check IDs. The IV would be availability, and the CF
would be that store clerks are not checking IDs
• Some common IVs are: retail availability, friends or peers that use,
and low perceived risk. Examples of CFs are retail clerks not
checking ID, and youth drinking after school with friends that
drink.
5. +
IVs and CFs in the
big picture
A complete needs
assessment will be able
to answer the following:
1. Consequence or goal
in the GASPS process
2. Substance use and who
is using
3. Why or what is
enabling the
consumption: IVs and
CFs
6. +
Where will we find
IVs and CFs?
Questions in the provided surveys
answer one of three questions. 1) Is
alcohol being used; 2) How much is
being used and by whom; and 3) What
are the circumstances of obtaining or
using. In addition, IV will be provided
for each goal in the GASPS process.
Many of the adult survey questions are
trying to obtain information about IV and
CFs.
Also, interviews, observations, and town
hall meeting can all be used for
collection of IV and CF data.
7. +
IVs and CFs
looking forward...
Keep in mind that the reason that IVs
and CFs are so important is they will
be the center point for the rest of the
SPF steps.
In Step 2, we will be looking at
building capacity around the chooser
IV and CFs.
In Step 3, we will be planning
interventions and activities around
the chosen IV and CFs.
8. + Let's reflect in a
different context.
A car wreck:
What might be some different IVs and
CFs for a car wreck?
Take a moment and write down 3
possible IVs for a car wreck.
From those IVs, think of 1 possible CF
that would be linked to an IV. Keep in
mind a CF must be directly connected
to an IV.
9. + Let's reflect in a
different context.
Possible IV's for a car wreck:
1) Conditions of the roads were bad.
2) Attention of the of the driver was
distracted. 3)
The car had worn or damaged parts.
Keep in mind that IV can be general.
In one of my examples, I just said that
the conditions of the road were bad,
but I didn't say HOW they were bad.
The CF's will tell how with more
detail how the road conditions were
bad.
10. + Let's reflect in a
different context.
Potential CF's for a car wreck:
1) Roads were very slippery that day
due to recent rainfall. 2)
The driver was texting.
3)The car's tires were completely bald.
Of course, we would not guess at these
IVs and CFs would rely on our
understanding of similar types of
wrecks, and the data from this
particular wreck.
11. + Let's reflect in a
different context.
Intervening variables are factors that have been identified as being strongly related to - and
influential in - the occurrence and magnitude of substance use problems and consequences.
Intervening variables are individual traits or experiences which drive their behaviors, such as
risk factors and protective factors. Risk factors are a variety of biochemical and psychosocial
characteristics and conditions that increase or mediate the likelihood that individuals will use
substances. Protective factors moderate or block the effects of risks factors (Hawkins, Catalano
& Miller 1992).
Contributing factors are the local situations that make the targeted behaviors especially
problematic within your community. Utilize your Needs Assessment data to determine what
conditions in your community most contribute to underage drinking and/or binge drinking.
Worksheet #27: Collecting Contributing Factor Data can be used to determine which condition
is the most harmful in your area.
