Smokers requesting self-help materials for smoking cessation (N = 2,021) were randomized to receive (a) an experimental self-quitting guide emphasizing nicotine fading and other nonaversive behavioral strategies, (b) the same self-quitting guide with a support guide for the quitter's family and friends, (c) self-quitting and support guides along with four brief counselor calls, or (d) a control guide providing motivational and quit tips and referral to locally available guides and programs. Subjects were predominantly moderate to heavy smokers with a history of multiple previous quit attempts and treatments. Control subjects achieved quit rates similar to those of smokers using the experimental quitting guide, with fewer behavioral prequitting strategies and more outside treatments. Social support guides had no effect on perceived support for quitting or on 8- and 16-month quit rates. Telephone counseling increased adherence to the quitting protocol and quit rates.

In the last two months have you had a physical examination? The ability of 660 people to accurately report on their own recent health procedures was assessed by comparing the recollections of patients to information extracted from their medical records. A major finding was that when people were asked whether they had a specific procedure in a given reference period (e.g., physical exam within the last two months), overreporting occurred. A simple technique reduced overreporting: The technique entailed asking people about the procedure twice, first in connection with a different reference period (e.g., physical exam within the last six months) and then in connection with the reference period of interest (e.g., physical exam within the last two months). Our data support a "Precision" hypothesis: The advantage of the two-time frame questioning procedure is that it conveys to the respondent that the interviewer wants greater precision in dating than the single-time frame question implies. "In the last two months, have you had a physical examination? How about an eye exam?" When people try to answer questions like these,

A survey in an unincorporated urban area compared the major community problems of concern to two groups: (a) a randomly selected sample of listed telephone subscribers, and (b) community leaders identified through nominations and reputational methods. In addition to asking about the major problems of the community, the randomly selected telephone subscribers were also asked to indicate for each problem (a) the persons or organizations to whom they looked for information and advice, (b) whom they considered qualified to speak for them, and (c) whom they expected to act in their behalf in the solution of these problems. The results of these surveys showed a large divergence of concerns expressed by the random samples and the reputed community leaders, as well as a striking number of respondents who felt themselves to be without spokesmen.

This study compares the verbal and behavioral reactions of residents living in high-, medium-, and low-noise zones surrounding a major airport, as well as in communities out of the airport's noise range. Results show that the effects of noise are highly complex. While the proportion of those reported to be bothered by noise is correlated with objectively measured noise levels, the intensity and perceived source of the noise are unrelated to reported psychological and physical symptoms, length of residence in the area, or trace measures indicating recreational use of outdoor areas.

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