Test-Retest Reliability of Retrospective Self-Reports in Three Populations of Alcohol Abusers

Author(s)

Stephen A. Maisto, Vanderbilt University
Mark B. Sobell, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
A. Mitch CooperFollow
Linda C. Sobell, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-1979

Publication Title

Journal of Behavioral Assessment

Volume

1

Issue/Number

4

First Page

315

ISSN

0164-0305

Last Page

326

Abstract/Excerpt

The reliability of alcohol abusers' retrospective self-reports was evaluated using a time-line follow-back interview technique. Independent groups of male subjects were interviewed in three different treatment settings (outpatient, n=12; inpatient, n=12; residential, n=12) on two separate occasions to assess the test-retest reliability of their self-reports of daily drinking and related events occurring 1 year prior to treatment. Correlational and scatterplot analyses generally showed a high correlation and low discrepancy between the two sets of interview responses for all groups. However, since some population differences were found in the reliability of reports for some variables, further research is needed to delineate the conditions under which reliable and valid retrospective self-reports can be obtained from different populations of alcohol abusers.

DOI

10.1007/BF01321373

ORCID ID

0000-0001-7705-3993

NSUWorks Citation

Maisto, S. A., Sobell, M. B., Cooper, A. M., Sobell, L. C. (1979). Test-Retest Reliability of Retrospective Self-Reports in Three Populations of Alcohol Abusers. Journal of Behavioral Assessment, 1(4), 315-326.
Available at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cps_facarticles/42