Research

For over 20 years, Eclectica has carried out research on lifestyles and high-risk behaviors at the local and international level.

Depending on our research objectives, we employ a variety of methods, including in-depth interviews, in-person and online focus groups, participant observation, online and offline surveys, photovoice, analysis of forums and other web content, regulatory analysis, advertising and communication studies, and secondary data analysis.

Action research is a frequently used approach, as it enables our researchers to work side by side with the people who are directly involved in planning and developing social policies and measures.

One of our prime areas of interest is behavior that can lead to addiction, such as alcohol and drug consumption or gambling. In this area, Eclectica has a prominent role both in Italy and internationally, thanks in no small measure to our participation in such consolidated European networks as the Kettil Bruun Society, the EMDASS (European Master in Drugs and Alcohol Studies) program, and CEAG, the University of Helsinki Centre for Research on Addiction, Control and Governance.

Focus areas:

  • Alcohol: drinking styles and cultures, marketing, policies, prevention, treatment, alcohol-related problems
  • Drugs: consumption, market, prevention, control policies, online forums, the dark net, penal system
  • Gambling: gambling careers, regulations, economy
  • Eating disorders: young people’s representations
  • Hikikomori: prevalence and representations
  • Road safety: driver behavior, preventive measures
  • Health policies: prevention and health promotion, behaviors and lifestyles, participatory planning
  • Social health promotion campaigns and initiatives: approval ratings and effectiveness.

Our research project

Drinking, gender differences and social change. The gendered dynamics of Swedish drinking situations from a comparative perspective

The research aims to explore the changes in the culture of drinking in Sweden, Finland and Italy, with particular attention to gender specificities, through the analysis of alcoholic beverage advertisements published in women’s magazines from the 1960s to today. Center for Social Research on Alcohol and Drugs, Stockholm University (SW)

2015-2017


BAONPS. Be aware Be Aware On Night Pleasure Safety

Project that experiments the drug-checking service also in Italy. Eclectica coordinates the comparative research on the meanings and patterns of use of new psychoactive substances (NSPs) in Italy, Slovenia and Portugal, which includes the administration of a questionnaire to partygoers and a web-research on social networks and the deep-web. Research report available at http://coopalice.net/baonps/

2015-17


Giovani, alcol e divieti

Opinions and attitudes of young Italians on alcohol laws

The research, funded by the Osservatorio Permanente sui Giovani e l’Alcol, aims to investigate the opinions and attitudes of young people (15-25 years) on the laws that currently regulate alcohol consumption and on the policies that assume the introduction of greater restrictions on the accessibility of alcoholic beverages.

http://www.alcol.net/images/rapporti_ricerca/Alcol%20e%20norme_Rapporto%20di%20ricerca_Eclectica%20_Definitivo.pdf

2016-17


AGGIO I’ A JUCÀ MA NUN TENGO ‘E SORDE

A research on gambling seen by Neapolitans.

The research, carried out for the ASL Napoli 1 and the GESCO Consortium, has the main objective to provide useful elements to those involved in the prevention and treatment of pathological gambling for the development of local intervention strategies that better respond to need of the recipients through a qualitative study. 40 individual in-dephts interviews were carried out among gamblers and a focus group with local stakeholders.

2016-17


Punta su di te

Committente: Consorzio CIS

La ricerca, realizzata per il Consorzio CIS nell’ambito di un progetto finanziato dalla Fondazione CRC, ha l’obiettivo di valutare il gradimento e l’impatto delle attività di prevenzione e intervento realizzate nell’ambito del  progetto “Punta su di te” sulla prevenzione del gioco d’azzardo attraverso l’elaborazione di questionari somministrati a cittadini e operatori e la realizzazione di due focus group.

2017


Preventing fatal opiod overdoses

A research in the Italian Naloxone distribution model

The research traces and reconstructs the history and analyzes the Italian operating model of prevention of opioid overdose through the distribution of naloxone, integrating a double perspective, that of the operators of harm reduction/low threshold services and SerTs and that of consumers investigated with questionnaires and focus groups. Forum Droghe – Open Society

http://www.forumdroghe.it/

2016


ALICE RAP – Addictions and Lifestyles in Contemporary Europe – Reframing Addiction Project

Multi-year interdisciplinary project that intends to deepen knowledge and raise awareness among decision-makers on the changes taking place in the addiction phenomenon and on the various aspects of the problem. Eclectica participates in the following work packages:

  • WP1. Addiction through the ages – investigation of different concepts of addiction applied to different substances and behaviors, from a historical, social and political point of view.
  • WP2. Stakeholder analysis – qualitative research on the position and role of stakeholders about the addiction policy debate.
  • WP3. Images – investigation on the images and representations of compulsive behaviors (alcohol, drugs, tobacco, eating disorders, gambling, sex) and on how these change over time and according to the cultural and political context.
  • WP11. The impact of suppliers – study on producers or suppliers of additive substances, on the motivations to increase or reduce additive behaviors and strategies related to Corporate Social Responsibility.
  • WP12. Addictions’ web of influence  study on the role of the industry in the public, scientific and political debate on addiction.

FP7-HEALTH-2007 – EU

http://www.alicerap.eu/

2011-15


Sicuri sulla strada. Study on alcohol and driving

The study, through the distribution of 20.000 disposable breathalyzers in some Italian municipalities, evaluates knowledge of the rules relating to alcohol and driving and the experience of using the breathalyzers. CONTRALCO Italia

2013-2015


Alcol e tradizione

Exploratory study on the evolution of drinking styles in production and consumption areas.

The objective of the study is to identify the protective and risk factors that characterize the wine production areas and those for consumption only. For this purpose, epidemiological and qualitative data (individual interviews) relating to Piedmont and in particular to the province of Cuneo (Langhe and non-vineyard plains) were analyzed and compared.

Ricerca realizzata in collaborazione con l’Università del Piemonte Orientale, con finanziamento Fondazione CRC, Comune di Alba, Federalimentare.

http://www.carocci.it/index.php?option=com_carocci&task=schedalibro&Itemid=72&isbn=9788843078547

2013-2015


La prevenzione e promozione della salute in provincia di Cuneo: quali priorità?

The research aims to analyze the state of the art in terms of health prevention and promotion in the province of Cuneo. Eclectica oversaw the field research, surveying with ad hoc questionnaires the initiatives launched by municipalities and territorial management bodies that have an impact on citizens’ health. To integrate the data, it also organized two focus groups with representatives of the local health authorities, managing bodies, municipalities, schools and ARPA to explore strengths and critical points in terms of prevention from the point of view of the various actors.

Centro Studi della Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Cuneo

http://www.fondazionecrc.it/index.php/analisi-e-ricerche/quaderni/112-quaderno-26

2014-2015


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