Study – The difference in cigarettes consumed by the three groups

ABSTRACT

SUBLIMINAL CESSATION OF SMOKING

Cheryl J. Treder and Don L. Morgan, Ph.D.

Problem

This study investigated the effect of SCWL subliminal tapes on smoking behavior of 73 college students at Metropolitan State College, Denver, Colorado. It was hypothesized that the experimental group would experience a greater decrease in cigarette consumption than either placebo or control groups.

Procedure

Fifty persons with varying lengths of smoking history were randomly assigned by a double-blind technique to be in the experimental (subliminal) or placebo group. Half the tapes contained only the sound of ocean waves (placebo) and half contained ocean waves with smoking cessation messages below the threshold of conscious awareness (experiment) “I like mental). Examples of the messages are: “I am a nonsmoker. myself better when I do not smoke.

The placebo tapes, containing no imbedded subliminal messages, were used to rule out any effects due to expectation. The researchers did not know which tapes contained subliminal messages until the data had been collected, insuring a true double-blind experiment. Smokers (who wished they did not smoke, but who received no tapes) constituted another “control” group.

Participants completed pretest questionnaires and reported their smoking behavior for one week. Those in the subliminal and placebo groups were each given an audio cassette tape. Participants were instructed to listen to the tapes for at least 30 minutes a day, at any time, at home, the office or in cars. At the end of 21 days, the tapes were returned and follow-up questionnaires completed. The number of cigarettes still being smoked after the 21 days was accepted as evidence for the study.

Findings

The subliminal and placebo groups were similar in terms of demographic characteristics, as shown in Table 1.

Table 1

Questionnaire Responses of Tape Use Groups

In theory, Persons who listen to subliminal programs designed to stop smoking will smoke fewer cigarettes than those who listen to identical sounding placebo tapes or no tape.

The following null hypothesis was tested statistically:

There is no difference in changes in cigarette consumption between the means of those who listen to SCWL tapes, those who listen to placebo tapes and those who attempted to quit smoking without listening to tapes.

A two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for three independent groups was used to determine the probability that the difference in cigarette consumption occurred by chance. The difference between group means was significant, F<.001. Group averages are presented in Table 2.

One-way ANOVA showed a difference between treatment means: p<.002, F = 7.064. Scheffee’ Post Hoc analysis identified a significant difference between subliminal and control groups as p<.01, F = 5.122; between placebo and control groups as p<.05, F = 3.21, with no statistically significant difference between experimental and placebo groups.

Table 2

Average Cigarette Consumption for Each Group

The difference in cigarettes consumed by the three groups was statistically significant at the .01 level, as determined by the F test. The null hypothesis was rejected in favor of the research hypothesis that subliminal tape use contributes to cessation of smoking.

Conclusions

Figure 1 shows the greatest rate of smoking decrease by the subliminal group. Listening to a tape, either SCWL subliminal or placebo, decreased cigarette consumption. The subliminal group compared to the no-tape control group was significant to the .01 level. The placebo group compared to the no-tape control group was significant to the .05 level.

Figure 1. Change in cigarette consumption during 21-day test.

Commitment affected the results of the study. Of the eleven subjects in the placebo group who expressed a strong desire to quit smoking, nine were indeed successful in reducing their cigarette consumption. The reduction ranged from 27% to 69%, with no individual increases. Of the 14 in the subliminal group who indicated a strong desire to quit smoking nine experienced considerable decrease. The decrease in this group ranged from 24% to 100%. The subliminal smoking cessation tape reduced consumption of cigarettes even for those who only expressed a weak desire to quit. Those in the subliminal group who expressed less desire to quit smoking, for whom motivation was not strong, did in fact experience a decrease in cigarette consumption.

A placebo effect was evident in the study, but not but not one person using a placebo tape stopped smoking, while 2 of the 23 persons using the subliminal tape did stop smoking. Users of both SCWL and placebo tapes reported the surf sounds were calming and relaxing.

More time was needed. The 21 days had an impact, but was insufficient to eradicate long-standing smoking habits for many. From the evidence collected in this study, it is concluded that the SCWL subliminal program for smoking cessation effectively reduces cigarette consumptIon.