title: Reliability and validity of nutrition knowledge questionnaire for adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the validity and reliability of a nutrition knowledge questionnaire for adults in California.
  
  
  METHODS
  A convenience sample of adults was recruited for cognitive interviews. A mail-based survey of 400 randomly selected addresses was used to assess internal consistency (Cronbach α). Researchers assessed content validity (Student t test) and test-retest reliability (Pearson correlation) in a convenience sample of university students who had previously taken a college nutrition course, compared with students who had not.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty adults participated in cognitive interviews, 94 adults returned the mailed questionnaire, and 48 university students participated in validity and reliability testing. Cronbach α = .91 and test-retest r = 0.95, demonstrating internal consistency reliability and test-retest reliability. Students who had taken a college-level nutrition course scored significantly higher compared with students who had not (P < .001), demonstrating construct validity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings show that the questionnaire is a valid and reliable nutrition knowledge measure for use in California and may be of use in other places.
authors.affiliation: Center for Nutrition in Schools, Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA.
authors.forename: Anna Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: University of California Cooperative Extension Tulare County, Tulare, CA.
authors.forename: Cathi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lamp
authors.affiliation: University of California Cooperative Extension Contra Costa County, Pleasant Hill, CA.
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Neelon
authors.affiliation: University of California Cooperative Extension Sacramento County, Sacramento, CA.
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nicholson
authors.affiliation: University of California Agricultural and Natural Resources, Davis, CA.
authors.forename: Connie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.affiliation: University of California Cooperative Extension San Diego County, San Diego, CA.
authors.forename: Patti
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wooten Swanson
authors.affiliation: Center for Nutrition in Schools, Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA. Electronic address: sazidenbergcherr@ucdavis.edu.
authors.forename: Sheri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zidenberg-Cherr
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002140:California; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D055951:Functional Food / Q000032:analysis; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D052756:Nutritional Sciences / Q000193:education*; D009753:Nutritive Value; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: nutrition knowledge; questionnaires; validated instruments