title: Measuring fertility demand.
abstract: We propose a multidimensional conceptualization of fertility demand and evaluate potential measures of each dimension, using data from a telephone survey of Wisconsin residents age 18-34. Most of the measures met tests for interval-level measurement; all produced high estimates of test-retest reliability. We found support for only two dimensions of demand, intensity and certainty; potential measures of centrality had relatively low associations with any of the latent dimensions. Demand certainty improved prediction of fertility expectations beyond a trichotomous (yes, no, don't know) measure, but demand intensity did not. We found mixed evidence for the conceptualization of fertility demand as a single continuum on which desire to avoid pregnancy is the opposite of desire to have a child.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology, University of Wisconsin-Madison 53706, USA.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Thomson
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Brandreth
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001723:Birth Rate / Q000639:trends*; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005193:Family Planning Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D012494:Sampling Studies; D014922:Wisconsin