An objective test of AIDS risk behavior knowledge: scale development, validation, and norms

Efforts to curtail the spread of AIDS emphasize changing risk practices. An objective measure of practical knowledge about AIDS risk behaviors can permit the more accurate assessment of the impact of such prevention programs. This paper describes the construction of a standardized 40-item test of AIDS risk behavior knowledge and presents data on the validity, reliability, and psychometric characteristics of the measure in addition to norms for several populations. Knowledge scores of risk behavior may serve as a useful dependent measure when evaluating the impact of applied or experimental AIDS prevention programs, especially with groups at potential risk for the syndrome.