Reliability, equivalence and respondent preference of computerized versus paper-and-pencil mental health questionnaires

• Published in: Computers in human behavior 2007-07, Vol.23 (4), p.1958-1970
• Main Authors: Wijndaele, K., Matton, L., Duvigneaud, N., Lefevre, J., Duquet, W., Thomis, M., De Bourdeaudhuij, I., Philippaerts, R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Assessment; Biological and medical sciences; Computer; Equivalence; Medical sciences; Paper-and-pencil; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychometrics. Diagnostic aid systems; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Questionnaire; Reliability; Techniques and methods
• ISSN: 0747-5632; 1873-7692
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2006.02.005

The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability, equivalence and respondent preference of a computerized version of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), Symptom Checklist (SCL-90-R), Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (MOSSSS), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Utrecht Coping List (UCL) in comparison with the original version in a general adult population. Internal consistency, equivalence and preference between both administration modes was assessed in a group of participants ( n = 130) who first completed the computerized questionnaire, followed by the traditional questionnaire and a post-assessment evaluation measure. Test–retest reliability was measured in a second group of participants ( n = 115), who completed the computerized questionnaire twice. In both groups, the interval between first and second administration was set at one week. Reliability of the PC versions was acceptable to excellent; internal consistency ranged from α = 0.52–0.98, ICC’s for test–retest reliability ranged from 0.58–0.92. Equivalence was fair to excellent with ICC’s ranging from 0.54–0.91. Interestingly, more subjects preferred the computerized instead of the traditional questionnaires (computerized: 39.2%, traditional: 21.6%, no preference: 39.2%). These results support the use of computerized assessment for these five instruments in a general population of adults.