Oral

The formation of many intervention/prevention programs is based upon self-report data. Thus, it is critical that information obtained in this fashion be as accurate as possible. In this session, participants will learn about issues relating to recruitment, data collection, and assessment in HIV research. The focus of the first presentation will be the development and psychometric evaluation of a scale assessing participation for use among adolescents. In the second presentation, scale development for the construct of sexual compulsivity will be described; including its reliability and validity. The focus of the third presentation will be how valid self-report data is that is obtained from African American female adolescents. Both presentations four and five address respondent-driven sampling; describing the methodological issues associated with this approach.

Session Objectives: 1. Recognize the value and methodological issues associated with respondent driven sampling. 2. Articulate measurement issues regarding self-report behaviors versus biological measures. 3. Discuss the reliability and validity of scales assessing quality of study participation and sexual compulsivity and the implications for program development.

CE Credits: CME, Health Education (CHES), Nursing