title: The relative validity of a chronological drinking record.
abstract: The results of chronological and a daily drinking record are compared. The chronological record was completed by interviewers who probed for information on all drinking episodes during the last week. The daily record covered only the last day and was completed by the respondent without interviewer assistance. Because of the recency of the information, the daily record was expected to yield the more valid results, but this hypothesis was not supported by the findings. Total alcohol consumption reported by the chronological method was significantly higher because men, but not women, reported fewer drinking episodes with the daily record for the same period. Daily recording may have placed too heavy a burden on the most frequent drinkers, most of whom were men.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D002910:Chronology as Topic; D003625:Data Collection; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors