Abstract
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.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Hersen, M., and Bellack, A. S.Behavioral Assessment: A Practical Handbook. New York: Pergamon Press, 1976.
Kazdin, A. E., and Wilson, G. T. Criteria for evaluating psychotherapy.Archives of General Psychiatry 1978,35 407–416.
Marlatt, G. A., Demming, B., and Reid, J. B. Loss of control drinking in alcoholics: An experimental analogue.Journal of Abnormal Psychology 1973,81 233–241.
Miller, P. M. Behavioral assessment in alcoholism research and treatment: Current techniques.The International Journal of the Addictions 1973,8 831–837.
Miller, P. M. A behavioral intervention program for chronic public drunkenness offenders.Archives of General Psychiatry 1975,32 915–918.
Pomerleau, O., and Adkins, D. Evaluating behavioral and traditional treatment for problem drinkers. In L. C. Sobell, M. B. Sobell, and E. Ward, (Eds.),Evaluating Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Effectiveness: Recent Advances. New York: Pergamon Press, 1980.
Sobell, M. B., Maisto, S. A., Sobell, L. C., Cooper, A. M., Cooper, T., and Sanders, B. Developing a prototype for evaluating alcohol treatment effectiveness. In L. C. Sobell, M. B. Sobell, and E. Ward (Eds.),Evaluating Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Effectiveness: Recent Advances. New York: Pergamon Press, 1980.
Sobell, M. B., Sobell, L. C., and VanderSpek, R. Relationship between clinical judgment, self-report and breath analysis measures of intoxication in alcoholics.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 1979,47 204–206.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This research was supported, in part, by Grant No. AA07072 from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism to Vanderbilt University.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Maisto, S.A., Sobell, M.B., Cooper, A.M. et al. Test-retest reliability of retrospective self-reports in three populations of alcohol abusers. Journal of Behavioral Assessment 1, 315–326 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01321373
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01321373