Reliability of retrospective self-report by narcotics addicts.

Abstract

Reliability of self-reported data obtained from 323 narcotics addicts was investigated in 2 face-to-face interviews conducted 10 years apart. The sames sets of retrospectively recalled behaviors were examined at each interview for an overlapping period of 4 to 5 years. Test-retest correlations were higher among activities that occurred at a higher frequency. Socially undesirable (illegal) behaviors were reported in the first interview to occur at lower frequencies than they were in the second. Both inconsistency and discrepancy of reporting undesirable behaviors increased with temporal procimity to the first interview. Respondents' characteristics that were associated with better reporting consistency and lower level of discrepancy included less abuse of alcohol and narcotics and less criminal involvement. Age did not have an effect on the reliability of self-report