THE ASSOCIATION OF SURVEY SETTING AND MODE WITH SELF-REPORTED HEALTH RISK BEHAVIORS AMONG HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.

Abstract: This study examined whether the prevalence of self-reported health risk behaviors among high school students varied by survey setting (school versus home) and mode of administration (paper and pencil versus computer). Students in grades 9 and 11 were assigned randomly to one of four conditions--school paper-and-pencil instrument (PAPI), school computer-assisted self-interview (CASI), home PAPI, and home CASI. During the spring of 2004, 4,506 students completed identically worded questionnaires based on the Youth Risk Behavior Survey questionnaire. Logistic regression analyses controlling for sex, grade, and race/ethnicity revealed that setting was associated significantly with the reporting of 30 of the 55 risk behaviors examined, and mode was associated significantly with the reporting of 7 of the 55 behaviors. For all behaviors with a significant setting main effect, the odds of reporting the behavior were greater among students who completed questionnaires at school than among students who completed questionnaires at home. For all behaviors with a significant mode main effect, PAPI mode students had lower odds of reporting the behavior than CASI mode students. Because social measurement research assumes that higher prevalence estimates are more valid than lower estimates, methodological factors shown to increase estimates, such as setting and mode, should be considered when planning surveys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]