title: Eliminating invalid self-report survey data.
abstract: A sample of 6,370 students in Grades 6 to 8 completed a questionnaire on their attitudes and use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. A subsample showed questionable data based on three criteria: missing responses, invalid responses, and inconsistent responses. Analysis indicated that this subsample was significantly different from the main group on demographic variables and self-reported life-time tobacco use. Results support efforts to identify and eliminate invalid data.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, DePaul University, 2219 N. Kenmore Ave., Chicago, IL 60614, USA.
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Pokorny
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Jason
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schoeny
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Curie
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Townsend
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015982:Bias; D002641:Chicago / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*