The effect of question structure on self-reports of heavy drinking: closed-ended versus open-ended questions.
OBJECTIVE
We compared open-ended versus closed-ended questions on the frequency of consuming five or more drinks in a single sitting.


METHODS
From a general population survey of Ontario adults (N = 2,022, 62% male), we analyzed a subsample of 649 respondents who reported drinking five or more drinks in a single sitting at least once in the past year. Differences in agreement between the two questions and rates of missing data were evaluated.


RESULTS
For the most part, the two measures were not consistent, with the closed-ended question eliciting higher rates of heavier drinking. Rates of missing data were also higher for the open-ended question.


CONCLUSIONS
Open-ended question may not necessarily be more suitable than closed-ended questions for estimating the frequency of heavy alcohol use.
Ivis
F J
FJ
Addiction Research Foundation, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Bondy
S J
SJ
Adlaf
E M
EM
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D015982:Bias; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D009864:Ontario; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012660:Semantics; D014342:Truth Disclosure