An analysis of the re-test artefact in longitudinal studies of psychiatric symptoms and personality.
When general population samples are assessed on two occasions with psychiatric symptom or personality measures, a mean change in scores towards less psychopathology is often observed. This re-test artefact is a potential threat to the validity of longitudinal studies. Data from a longitudinal general population study were analysed to discover under what circumstances the re-test artefact occurs. It was found that the artefact is unrelated to the time lag between occasions, being equally strong at intervals ranging from 4 to 34 weeks. However, the artefact did not occur for all measures, but was confined to those assessing negative self-characteristics and administered orally by an interviewer. These findings are consistent with both the 'mechanical responding' and 'social desirability' hypotheses of the re-test artefact.
Jorm
A F
AF
NH & MRC Social Psychiatry Research Unit, Australian National University, Canberra.
Duncan-Jones
P
P
Scott
R
R
D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D010556:Personality Tests; D011594:Psychometrics