These two studies explored the cognitive decision-making process which differentiate effective contraceptors form the ineffective contraceptors (Study 1), and applied these findings to the development and testing of educational and cognitive interventions aimed at a group of sexually active young women at risk of becoming pregnant (Study 2). The results identified factors related to unnecessary contraceptive risk-taking. The interventions changed attitudes and knowledge about contraception in the college population in general and increased effective contraception in the at-risk population of women who were initially using either ineffective methods of birth control or no methods at all.