Comparability and Reliability of Paper- and Computer-Based Measures of Psychosocial Constructs for Adolescent Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors

Abstract

This study assessed the comparability and reliability of paper-based and computer-based administration of psychosocial construct measures related to adolescents engaging in physical activity and sedentary behaviors. Adolescents (n = 76; 55% girls, 49% Hispanic, 18% non-Hispanic-white; M age = 13 years) completed measures of behavior change strategies, selfefficacy, decisional balance, family and peer influences, enjoyment, activity choices, and environmental influences. Overall, the adolescents provided equivalent responses on paper and computer formats. Reliability estimates were generally good for the multiple-item constructs, but single-item measures tended to demonstrate low reliability. Average scale internal consistency was significantly higher for measures administered with the computer format compared to the paper format, but test-rest reliability estimates were not significantly different between formats.

Key words:

• exercise
• health surveys
• Internet
• reproducibility of results

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Gregory J. Norman

This work was partially supported by grants CA81495 and CA85873 from the National Cancer Institute. Portions of this paper were presented at the Society of Behavioral Medicine's 24th Annual Sessions, Salt Lake City, UT, March 2003. We would like to acknowledge the assistance of Peter Ryan for computer programming and Lindsay Radick for data collection. Please address all correspondence concerning this article to Gregory J. Norman, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, Dept. 0811, La Jolla, CA 92093.