ABSTRACT
The overall research plan was to obtain representative samples of primarily freshmen at two dramatically contrasting educational institutions, Yale University and Murray State University. A major concern of the research was to combine a purely empirical research approach, focusing on determining personality characteristics associated with use or nonuse of alcohol and other drugs, with the development of a theoretical model suitable for experimental verification. Accordingly, potential assessment instruments were evaluated using the twin criteria of theoretical meaningfulness and technical soundness. The chapter attempts to use theoretically derived personality constructs with demonstrated validity and reliability, with the specific intent of studying psychological processes inherent in the use or nonuse of substances. The Personality Research Form assesses a set of personality needs "broadly relevant to the functioning of individuals in a wide variety of situations". The inventory limits itself to normal rather than abnormal processes and presents a generally comprehensive description of personality based on H. A. Murray's categories of basic motives.
