Modeling of self-report behavior data using the generalized covariates in a uniform and shifted binomial mixture...

Social scientists routinely collect data using questionnaires and surveys. Items on these instruments frequently involve scales with multiple ordered options that respondents use to report intensity of feelings or behaviors. Given their popularity, a variety of statistical models have been developed for analyzing data collected using these items. A model that has been recently described for working with ordinal items is the covariates in a uniform and shifted binomial mixture (CUB). The CUB model characterizes responses to ordinal items as a function of two parameters: (a) response feeling (or intensity), and (b) response uncertainty. This model has been extended to include a third parameter measuring likelihood of respondents selecting a socially desirable or safe response, known as the shelter option. This model has been primarily used to investigate items measuring political opinions or product preferences. However, the CUB with a shelter parameter and covariates generalized covariates in a uniform and shifted ninomial mixture model (GeCUB) seems particularly well suited for characterizing self-reported behaviors, particularly those that are not considered positive (i.e., substance abuse). The purpose of this study is to apply this extension of the CUB to the modeling of self-reported substance use behavior by teenagers. Results from the GeCUB model estimation revealed that subjects used the "no use" response as a shelter option at relatively high rates for marijuana use but not for cigarettes or alcohol. In addition, females reported less use and less certainty in their responses than did males. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).