Adolescent sexual behavior, drug use, and violence: Increased reporting with computer survey technology
Turner, C.F.; Ku, L.; Rogers, S.M.; Lindberg, L.D.; Pleck, J.H.; Sonenstein, F.L.
Science 280(5365): 867-873
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0036-8075 PMID: 9572724 DOI: 10.1126/science.280.5365.867Document Number: 274422
Surveys of risk behaviors have been hobbled by their reliance on respondents to report accurately about engaging in behaviors that are highly sensitive and may be illegal. An audio computer-assisted self-interviewing (audio-CASI) technology for measuring those behaviors was tested with 1690 respondents in the 1995 National Survey of Adolescent Males. The respondents were randomly assigned to answer questions using either audio-CASI or a more traditional self-administered questionnaire. Estimates of the prevalence of male-male sex, injection drug use, and sexual contact with intravenous drug users were higher by factors of 3 or more when audio-CASI was used. Increased reporting was also found for several other risk behaviors.