BGSU Sociologists Get $1.3 Million Grant to Study Adolescent Peer Relationships

A four-year, $1.3 million grant has been awarded to three Bowling Green State University sociologists to underwrite a major study of adolescent dating and peer relationships.

The grant, which provides $272,581 in funding this year, is among the largest multi-year research grants ever awarded to faculty at BGSU.

"This is a very prestigious grant," according to Dr. Steven Ballard, vice provost for research and dean of the Graduate College. "This was a national competition for funding and it shows Bowling Green can compete with anybody in terms of high-quality research."

The chief researchers on the project are Drs. Peggy Giordano, Wendy Manning and Monica Longmore, who have received the funding from The National Institute of Child Health and Development through the National Institutes of Health.

Although each member of the research team comes from a different specialty within sociology--Longmore is a specialist in social psychology, Manning is a demographer and Giordano is an expert on adolescent behavior--their common assessment is that not much is known about adolescent dating.

By focusing on the qualities of romantic relationships, the sociologists hope to build a portrait of adolescent heterosexual relations that can be compared to previous studies of adolescent same-gender friendships.

"Basically, we're stepping back from sexual behavior to study heterosexual relationships and learn how they influence adolescent behavior," explained Giordano, a professor of sociology.

"We know dating is related," added assistant professor Manning, "but how does it relate to the context in which sexual decisions are being made? It's a couple decision and it's important to understand the couple context."

The researchers also want to learn more about how adolescent boys and girls influence each other.

"In the (sociological) literature, the emphasis is on same-sex peer group influences. We're arguing that the opposite sex can also be an important source of influence--not just sexually, but with problem behaviors, like drug use and drinking," noted Longmore, an associate professor of sociology.

While the common stereotype is that boys have a more negative influence on girls than vice versa, that may or may not be the case, the sociologists say.

For their study, the sociologists will conduct in-home interviews with a random sample of 1,500 adolescents in the Lucas County area who are in the seventh, ninth and eleventh grades. A parent or guardian also will complete a short questionnaire.

The study will include a follow-up interview one year after the initial interview as well as 200 in-depth interviews to gather information on relationship issues adolescents believe are important.

Assisting the faculty on the project will be four graduate students and more than a half dozen advanced undergraduate students enrolled in a sociology class being team-taught by the professors spring semester.

"We'll be teaching the undergraduates about structured interviews and then getting them into the field to launch the project. We're excited about teaching the undergraduates to do the research. It will be a valuable experience for these students," Giordano said.

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