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The Effect of Question Structure on Self-Reports of Heavy Drinking: Closed-Ended versus Open-Ended Questions
Frank J. Ivis, Susan J. Bondy, Edward M. Adlaf
Objective: We compared open-ended versus closedended questions on the frequency of consuming five or more drinks in a single sitting. Method: From a general population survey of Ontario adults (N = 2,022,62% male), we analyzed a subsample of 649 respondents who reported drinking five or more drinks in a single sitting at least once in the past year. Differences in agreement between the two questions and rates of missing data were evaluated. Results: For the most part, the two measures were not consistent, with the closed-ended question eliciting higher rates of heavier drinking. Rates of missing data were also higher for the open-ended question. Conclusions: Open-ended question may not necessarily be more suitable than closed-ended questions for estimating the frequency of heavy alcohol use. (J Stud. Alcohol 58: 622-624, 1997)
