Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Assessing sexual behavior with self-report is essential to research on a variety of health topics, including pregnancy and infertility, sexually transmitted infections, and sexual health and functioning.
Recent methodological research has provided new insights regarding the accuracy of self-reports of sexual behavior. In this paper, we review these studies paying particular attention to a promising new development, namely, the use of computer-assisted assessments. The collection of sexual risk behavior data with computers has increased dramatically in recent years, but little is known about the accuracy of such assessments. We summarize the evidence, discuss methodological issues that arise in studies evaluating the accuracy of self-reports, and offer recommendations for future research.
Data regarding sexual behavior are typically obtained by self-report. These data are used to evaluate prevention programs targeting sexually transmitted infection and unintended pregnancy; to assess and treat a variety of sexual health problems; and to inform public policy decisions. Thus, it is critical that such self-reports yield the most precise, detailed, and accurate information. The purpose of this review is to discuss recent evidence regarding the accuracy 1 of self-reported sexual behavior.
We identify factors that influence the accuracy of self-report, and integrate recent empirical evidence with earlier reviews by Catania et al. We pay particular attention to technologically advanced modes of assessment, which have increased in popularity in the past decade.
After reviewing the literature, we discuss methodological issues relevant to this research, draw conclusions about the state-of-the-science, and make recommendations for future research. Research has identified a wide array of factors that appear to influence the accuracy of retrospective self-report of sexual behavior. These factors include the demands of the recall task and related memory error, and the social context of assessment, which can affect self-report bias.
