Effect of response format on endorsement of eating disordered attitudes and behaviors

✍ Scribed by Anderson, Drew A. ;Simmons, Angela M. ;Milnes, Suzanne M. ;Earleywine, Mitchell

• Publisher: Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
• Year: 2006
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 80 KB
• Volume: 40
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0276-3478
• DOI: 10.1002/eat.20342

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Objective:

The present study was designed to compare response rates on a standard self‐report questionnaire that was nominally anonymous to an unmatched count questionnaire that allowed for true anonymity in responding.

Method:

Four hundred and fifty‐four college students were asked about several topics, including attitudes towards weight and shape, dieting, and eating disordered behavior using one of two response formats; either a standard questionnaire in true‐false format or an unmatched count questionnaire that did not require participants to directly answer sensitive questions.

Results:

Both males and females had significantly different rates of endorsement between the two methods of assessment on the majority of the eating‐related questions.

Conclusion:

Response format and degree of anonymity affect endorsement of eating‐related thoughts and behaviors. Understanding response bias is critical to determining accurate rates of eating disordered thoughts and behaviors. © 2006 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2006