ERIC Number: EJ735350
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2006-Mar
Pages: 19
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1082-989X
EISSN: N/A
Paper or Plastic? Data Equivalence in Paper and Electronic Diaries
Green, Amie S.; Rafaeli, Eshkol; Bolger, Niall; Shrout, Patrick E.; Reis, Harry T.
Psychological Methods, v11 n1 p87-105 Mar 2006
Concern has been raised about the lack of participant compliance in diary studies that use paper-and-pencil as opposed to electronic formats. Three studies explored the magnitude of compliance problems and their effects on data quality. Study 1 used random signals to elicit diary reports and found close matches to self-reported completion times, matches that could not plausibly have been fabricated. Studies 2 and 3 examined the psychometric and statistical equivalence of data obtained with paper versus electronic formats. With minor exceptions, both methods yielded data that were equivalent psychometrically and in patterns of findings. These results serve to at least partially mollify concern about the validity of paper diary methods.
Descriptors: Computer Mediated Communication, Paper (Material), Compliance (Psychology), Validity, Diaries, Measurement Techniques, Psychometrics, Psychological Studies, Psychological Studies
American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org/publications.
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A