Comparability and reliability of paper- and computer-based measures of psychosocial constructs for adolescent fruit and vegetable and dietary fat intake.
BACKGROUND
This study investigated the comparability and reliability of computer- and paper-based measures of psychosocial constructs related to fruit and vegetable and dietary fat intake among adolescents.


METHODS
An ethnically diverse sample of 76 adolescents was studied (mean age 13 years). Scales measured use of change strategies, self-efficacy, decisional balance, family influences, and peer influences separately for the two dietary outcomes.


RESULTS
Comparability analyses indicated that responses for each of the 12 diet-related scales were not significantly different between the computer- and paper-based surveys. Internal consistencies were generally high (alpha from .61 to .97) with slightly better reliability on the computer- vs paper-based surveys. Test-retest reliabilities were adequate to good for most multiple-item scales (interclass correlation coefficients from .43 to .85 and .48 to .90 for paper and computer formats, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Computer- and paper-based measures of psychosocial constructs are appropriate and ready for use in either format for studies of dietary behaviors in young people.
Hagler
Athena S
AS
University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr, Department 0811, La Jolla, CA 92093-0811, USA. ahagler@paceproject.org
Norman
Gregory J
GJ
Radick
Lindsey R
LR
Calfas
Karen J
KJ
Sallis
James F
JF
D000293:Adolescent; D017195:Adolescent Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D003201:Computers; D004034:Diet Surveys; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D014675:Vegetables
D004041:Dietary Fats