title: Comparison of web-based versus paper-and-pencil self-administered questionnaire: effects on health indicators in Dutch adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to investigate differences in responses related to (mental) health and behavior between two methods of data collection: web-based (web) and paper-and-pencil (p&p).
  
  
  METHODS
  Within each participating school all third-grade classes (mainly 14-15-year-old pupils) were randomly assigned to either the Internet condition (n=271) or the paper-and-pencil condition (n=261).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant but small differences were found for the strengths and difficulties subscales "emotional symptoms" (p&p>web) and "prosocial behavior" (p&p>web), and carrying a weapon (web>p&p). Perceived level of privacy and confidentiality did not differ between the two modes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest that in a controlled school setting, web-based administration of health indicators yields almost the same results as paper-and-pencil administration. To generalize these findings, we recommend repeated studies in other populations and settings.
authors.affiliation: Youth Department, Municipal Public Health Service for the Rotterdam Area, PO Box 70032, 3000 LP Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Petra M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Van De Looij-Jansen
authors.forename: Erik Jan
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: De Wilde
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003219:Confidentiality; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D009426:Netherlands; D012737:Sex Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires