The measurement of situational influences of smoking

Two experiments were conducted to examine procedures for assessing the relationships between various environmental stimuli and smoking. Fourteen students not desiring to quit smoking, who smoked more than 10 cigarettes per day, were recruited in Experiment I to participate in a study to monitor smoking and were instructed to smoke normally during the measurement period. Situations in which smoking occured were rated on a smoking questionnaire and continuously monitored by self-monitoring techniques. Correlational procedures indicated a high test-retest reliability over a two week period for repeated presentation of the smoking questionnaire, with low to moderate relationships between the scale and the self-monitored smoking behavior. Analysis of the self-monitoring records indicated consistent relationships between smoking and temporal variables, and moderate relationships with environmental events. No significant changes in smoking rates were found as a function of self-monitoring. In Experiment II, the self-monitoring procedures used in Experiment I were evaluated in terms of possible controlling effects and measurement reliability. Nine students were recruited and instructed not to change their smoking behavior. No significant changes in smoking rates were found as a function of self-monitoring. Percent agreement reliability between the smoker and a participant observer in the natural environment indicated smoking could be self-monitored reliably.