Differentiating between precursor and control variables when analyzing reasoned action theories.
This paper highlights the distinction between precursor and control variables in the context of reasoned action theory. Here the theory is combined with structural equation modeling to demonstrate how age and past sexual behavior should be situated in a reasoned action analysis. A two wave longitudinal survey sample of African-American adolescents is analyzed where the target behavior is having vaginal sex. Results differ when age and past behavior are used as control variables and when they are correctly used as precursors. Because control variables do not appear in any form of reasoned action theory, this approach to including background variables is not correct when analyzing data sets based on the theoretical axioms of the Theory of Reasoned Action, the Theory of Planned Behavior, or the Integrative Model.
Public Policy Center, Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania, 3620 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA, mhennessy@asc.upenn.edu.
Michael
M
Hennessy
Amy
A
Bleakley
Martin
M
Fishbein
Larry
L
Brown
Ralph
R
Diclemente
Daniel
D
Romer
Robert
R
Valois
Peter A
PA
Vanable
Michael P
MP
Carey
Laura
L
Salazar
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D005845:Georgia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011584:Psychology; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013598:Systems Theory