Comparison of 3 data collection methods for gathering sensitive and less sensitive information.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Public Health
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Gathering sensitive data on child abuse, substance use, and intimate partner violence (IPV) requires methods minimizing socially desirable responses.
• Optimal data collection is crucial for both research and clinical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effectiveness of three data collection methods: face-to-face interviews, paper and pencil questionnaires, and audio computer-assisted self-interviews (ACASI).
• To identify the optimal method for reducing socially desirable responses when collecting sensitive personal information.

Main Methods:

• 514 parents of preschoolers (0-5 years) attending a pediatric clinic completed a psychosocial screening questionnaire (PSQ).
• Participants used one of three methods: paper and pencil, face-to-face interview, or ACASI.

Main Results:

• ACASI showed the highest rates of reporting sensitive issues like social isolation and parental stress.
• Face-to-face interviews yielded intermediate results, while paper questionnaires showed lower disclosure rates for sensitive topics.
• No significant differences were found between the methods for neutral, less sensitive items.

Conclusions:

• ACASI facilitates greater disclosure of sensitive information compared to paper and pencil methods.
• In a research setting, ACASI and face-to-face interviews showed similar disclosure rates for sensitive data.
• All three methods were comparable for collecting data on less sensitive topics.