Cross-Informant Agreement in Reports of Environmental Behavior and the Effect of Cross-Questioning on Report Accuracy

Two hundred students and their spouses participated in a survey. Accuracy of the spouses’self-reports of environmental behavior was examined by comparing them with the students’ reports of the spouses’ behavior. These two sources of report were moderately correlated (rs = .44 to .45). Moreover, self...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environment and behavior 2002-07, Vol.34 (4), p.508-520
Main Authors: Lam, San-Pui, Cheng, Shih-I
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accuracy
Attitudes
Behavior
Beliefs
Correlation
Couples
Crossexamination
Environment
Environmental behaviour
Gender differentiation
Human behaviour
Polls & surveys
Ratings
Selfreport
Statistical methods
Students
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Summary:Two hundred students and their spouses participated in a survey. Accuracy of the spouses’self-reports of environmental behavior was examined by comparing them with the students’ reports of the spouses’ behavior. These two sources of report were moderately correlated (rs = .44 to .45). Moreover, self-reports could be higher or lower than other-reports, depending on the type of environmental behavior measured. Half of all participants were also cross-questioned about the details of their self-reports. Compared with those who were not cross-questioned, the former gave lower (less socially desirable) ratings for their own behavior. Put together, the present study found no strong evidence of accuracy or inaccuracy of self-reports but suggests that cross-questioning can make people more cautious in their answers. Gender differences in environmental behavior were also found and discussed.
ISSN:0013-9165
1552-390X
DOI:10.1177/00116502034004006