Reliability and validity of self-reported smoking in an anonymous online survey with young adults.
- 1 November 2011
- journal article
- Published by American Psychological Association (APA) in Health Psychology
- Vol. 30 (6), 693-701
- https://doi.org/10.1037/a0023443
Abstract
The Internet offers many potential benefits to conducting smoking and other health behavior research with young adults. Questions, however, remain regarding the psychometric properties of online self-reported smoking behaviors. The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of self-reported smoking and smoking-related cognitions obtained from an online survey. Young adults (N = 248) age 18 to 25 who had smoked at least 1 cigarette in the past 30 days were recruited online and completed a survey of tobacco and other substance use. Measures of smoking behavior (quantity and frequency) and smoking-related expectancies demonstrated high internal consistency reliability. Measures of smoking behavior and smoking stage of change demonstrated strong concurrent criterion and divergent validity. Results for convergent validity varied by specific constructs measured. Estimates of smoking quantity, but not frequency, were comparable to those obtained from a nationally representative household interview among young adults. These findings generally support the reliability and validity of online surveys of young adult smokers. Identified limitations may reflect issues specific to the measures rather than the online data collection methodology. Strategies to maximize the psychometric properties of online surveys with young adult smokers are discussed.Keywords
This publication has 35 references indexed in Scilit:
- Craving among long-abstinent smokers: An Internet surveyNicotine & Tobacco Research, 2010
- Teen Smokers Reach Their Mid TwentiesJournal of Adolescent Health, 2006
- Epidemiology and Correlates of Daily Smoking and Nicotine Dependence Among Young Adults in the United StatesAmerican Journal of Public Health, 2006
- Virtual and physical venues as contexts for HIV risk among rural men who have sex with men.Health Psychology, 2006
- Perceived consequences of cigarette use among college studentsAddictive Behaviors, 2005
- Collecting behavioural data using the world wide web: considerations for researchersJournal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 2003
- Mode effects for collecting alcohol and other drug use data: Web and U.S. mail.Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 2002
- Testing stage effects in an ethnically diverse sample.Addictive Behaviors, 2002
- Identifying Male College Students' Perceived Health Needs, Barriers to Seeking Help, and Recommendations to Help Men Adopt Healthier LifestylesJournal of American College Health, 2000
- Relationship of subjective and objective social status with psychological and physiological functioning: Preliminary data in healthy, White women.Health Psychology, 2000