Response processes for patients providing quantitative self-report data: a qualitative study.

Area of Science:

• Psychological Measurement
• Clinical Psychology
• Substance Use Disorder Treatment

Background:

• Quantitative self-report data is widely used in clinical settings.
• Existing models lack integration for understanding patient response processes.
• Accurate interpretation of self-report data is vital for patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• Identify factors influencing patient response processes for quantitative self-report data.
• Develop an integrative model of patient response processes.
• Guide the assessment of validity evidence and score interpretation.

Main Methods:

• Cognitive interviewing with 13 participants from a substance use disorder clinic.
• Data collection and analysis inspired by grounded theory.
• Participants responded to items from a routine outcome monitoring clinical feedback system.

Main Results:

• Identified five categories of variables influencing response processes: context, item, response base, reasoning, and selection strategies.
• Patient responses are affected by various factors not evident in numerical scores alone.
• Developed response categories to capture nuanced aspects of the response process.

Conclusions:

• Patient response processes can challenge the accuracy and meaning conveyed in self-report data.
• Response nuances offer important interpretive insights beyond numerical scores.
• The developed model aids in item development, validity assessment, and response interpretation.