Sources of Response Bias in Cognitive Self-Report Items: "Which Memory Are You Talking About?"
Cognition
Memory
Self-rated health
Journal
The Gerontologist
ISSN: 1758-5341
Titre abrégé: Gerontologist
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 0375327
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
17 09 2019
17 09 2019
Historique:
received:
09
04
2018
pubmed:
8
8
2018
medline:
9
6
2020
entrez:
8
8
2018
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Self-reported cognitive difficulties are common in the years before an Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis. Understanding how older adults interpret and respond to questions about their cognition is critical to recognize response biases that may limit the accuracy of cognitive self-reports in identifying AD risk. Cognitive interviewing is a systematic approach for examining sources of response bias that influence individuals' answers to specific questions. The purpose of this study was to identify features of common cognitive self-report items that contribute to (a) differing interpretations among respondents and (b) older adults' decisional processes when responding. A convenience sample of community-dwelling older adults (n = 49; Mage = 74.5 years; 36.7% male) without dementia completed a demographic questionnaire, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and an audio-recorded cognitive interview. Twenty commonly used cognitive self-report items were evaluated using cognitive interviewing techniques. The Question Appraisal System was used to guide the analysis of interview data and identify sources of response bias within and across cognitive self-report items. The most common sources of inconsistency in item interpretation and decisional processes were vague item wording, incorrect assumptions regarding consistency of cognitive problems across situations, and provocation of an emotional reaction that influenced responses. Assessment of self-reported cognition is critical to facilitate research on early AD symptoms. Findings from this study identify modifiable sources of response bias that may influence the measurement properties of currently used cognitive self-report items and can inform refinement of measures.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Self-reported cognitive difficulties are common in the years before an Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis. Understanding how older adults interpret and respond to questions about their cognition is critical to recognize response biases that may limit the accuracy of cognitive self-reports in identifying AD risk. Cognitive interviewing is a systematic approach for examining sources of response bias that influence individuals' answers to specific questions. The purpose of this study was to identify features of common cognitive self-report items that contribute to (a) differing interpretations among respondents and (b) older adults' decisional processes when responding.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
A convenience sample of community-dwelling older adults (n = 49; Mage = 74.5 years; 36.7% male) without dementia completed a demographic questionnaire, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and an audio-recorded cognitive interview. Twenty commonly used cognitive self-report items were evaluated using cognitive interviewing techniques. The Question Appraisal System was used to guide the analysis of interview data and identify sources of response bias within and across cognitive self-report items.
RESULTS
The most common sources of inconsistency in item interpretation and decisional processes were vague item wording, incorrect assumptions regarding consistency of cognitive problems across situations, and provocation of an emotional reaction that influenced responses.
DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS
Assessment of self-reported cognition is critical to facilitate research on early AD symptoms. Findings from this study identify modifiable sources of response bias that may influence the measurement properties of currently used cognitive self-report items and can inform refinement of measures.
Identifiants
pubmed: 30085104
pii: 5062292
doi: 10.1093/geront/gny087
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
912-924Informations de copyright
© The Author(s) 2018. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.