The Science of Self-report: Implications for Research and Practice

by Arthur A. Stone (Editor)

Rigorous methodological techniques have been developed in the last decade to improve the reliability and accuracy of self reports from research volunteers and patients about their pain, mood, substance abuse history, or dietary habits. This book presents cutting-edge research on optimal methods for obtaining self-reported information for use in the evaluation of scientific hypothesis, in therapeutic interventions, and in the development of prognostic indicators.

ALTERNATE
Self-reports constitute critically important data for research and practice in many fields. As the chapters in this volume document, psychological and social processes influence the storage and recall of self-report information. There are conditions under which self-reports should be readily accepted by the clinician or researcher, and other conditions where healthy scepticism is required. The chapters demonstrate methods for improving the accuracy of self-reports, ranging from fine-tuning interviews and questionnaires to employing emerging technologies to collect data in ways that minimize bias and encourage accurate reporting.

Representing a diverse group of disciplines including sociology, law, psychology, and medicine, the distinguished authors offer crucial food for thought to all those whose work depends on the accurate self-reports of others.

392 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 1999

About the author

Arthur A. Stone, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, directs the Center for Self-Report Science at the University of Southern California. Dr. Stone specializes in the field of behavioral medicine and has conducted studies on stress, coping, physical illness, psychoneuroimmunology, psychoendocrinology, structured emotional writing, well-being and self-report processes. Many of his studies have used diaries and momentary approaches to data capture. Dr. Stone's current research focuses on the properties of momentary data in the context of pain and chronic illnesses.

Dr. Stone has authored or coauthored dozens of published works, including The Science of Self Report and The Science of Real-Time Data Capture. Selected journal contributions include "Understanding Recall of Weekly Pain From a Momentary Assessment Perspective: Absolute Agreement, Between- and Within-Person Consistency, and Judged Change in Weekly Pain"; "A Survey Method for Characterizing Daily Life Experience: The Day Reconstruction Method (DRM)"; and "Variability of Momentary Pain Predicts Recall of Weekly Pain: A Consequence of the Peak (or Salience) Memory Heuristic."

Dr. Stone has been an executive council member for the American Psychosomatic Society; a research committee member for the American Psychological Association; and a past president and executive council member of the Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research. His editorial appointments include editor-in-chief for Health Psychology and Annals of Behavioral Medicine; editorial board member for the British Journal of Health Psychology and Mind/Body Medicine; and journal reviewer for more than 15 psychology publications.

A licensed psychologist, Dr. Stone received his bachelor's degree from Hamilton College and doctorate degree in clinical psychology from Stony Brook University. His honors and awards include the Distinguished Health Psychologist Senior Award from the American Psychological Association, Division 38; the University Medal of the University of Trier, Germany; and becoming a SUNY Distinguished Professor.

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