Abstract
The use of multiple response system measurement adds an important dimension to behavioral medicine research. However, multiple measurement can result in problems in both analyzing and reporting outcome data. Problems in analysis include the increasing of chance findings as the measurement number increases. Problems in reporting include a blurring of response categories when general labels are used, a biased emphasis on the minority of variables showing experimental differences, and a misleading tendency to base comparative conclusions on general labels which do not accurately represent all data measured. Some examples of these problems from methodologically sound studies are described and alternative ways of dealing with the findings from multiple measurements are suggested.
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The present manuscript evolved from a discussion presented in M. C. Roberts and L. Peterson (eds.),Prevention of Problems in Childhood: Psychological Research and Applications, Wiley-Interscience, New York (in press). Andrew Homer deserves special thanks for his assistance with past versions of the manuscript.
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Peterson, L. A brief methodological comment on possible inaccuracies induced by multimodal measurement analysis and reporting. J Behav Med 7, 307–313 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00845362
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00845362