title: Identifying and Addressing Sources of Measurement Error in the Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire (NSSQ) provides a rich portrait of one's perceived social support including network size/composition and quality of support. Analyses of quantitative research reports and critiques of the NSSQ revealed non-negligible measurement error. We document evidence of measurement error, report potential sources of this error, and present forthcoming psychometric testing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Quantitative evidence of measurement error from the NSSQ literature provided the basis for initial hypotheses concerning sources of error in network nomination and support ratings. We then conducted cognitive interviews to investigate these hypotheses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cognitive interviews revealed evidence of respondents' miscomprehension and response option bias.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current nomination process coupled with the lack of a "not applicable" response option and embedded examples in tangible Aid items reduces the accuracy of NSSQ subscores.
authors.affiliation: College of Staten Island, The City University of New York, USA.
authors.forename: Eileen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gigliotti
authors.forename: William Ellery
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Samuels
authors.forename: June
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Como
authors.forename: Tofiga
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gamidova
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Acerios
mesh_terms: D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires