Julie M Maier1, Kristen N Jozkowski2, Danny Valdez3, Brandon L Crawford4, Ronna C Turner5, Wen-Juo Lo6. 1. Julie M. Maier, Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Applied Health Science, School of Public Health, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, United States. 2. Kristen N. Jozkowski, William L. Yarber Endowed Professor in Sexual Health, Department of Applied Health Science, School of Public Health, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, United States;, Email: knjozkow@iu.edu. 3. Danny Valdez, Assistant Professor, Department of Applied Health Science, School of Public Health, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, United States. 4. Brandon L. Crawford, Assistant Professor, Department of Applied Health Science, School of Public Health, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, United States. 5. Ronna C. Turner, Professor, Educational Statistics and Research Methods, College of Education and Health Professions, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, United States. 6. Wen-Juo Lo, Associate Professor, Educational Statistics and Research Methods, College of Education and Health Professions, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, United States.
Abstract
Objectives: Salient belief elicitations (SBEs), informed by the Reasoned Action Approach (RAA), are used to identify 3 sets of beliefs - behavioral, control, and normative - that influence attitudes toward a health behavior. SBEs ask participants about their own beliefs through open-ended questions. We adapted a SBE by focusing on abortion, which is infrequently examined through SBEs; we also included a survey version that asked participants their views on what a hypothetical woman would do if contemplating an abortion. Given these deviations from traditional SBEs, the purpose of this study was to assess if the adapted SBE was understood by participants in English and Spanish through cognitive interviewing. Methods: We examined participants' interpretations of SBE items about abortion to determine if they aligned with the corresponding RAA construct. We administered SBE surveys and conducted cognitive interviews with US adults in both English and Spanish. Results: Participants comprehended the SBE questions as intended. Participants' interpretations of most questions were also in line with the respective RAA construct. Conclusions: SBE survey questions were comprehended well by participants. We discuss areas in which SBE questions can be modified to improve alignment with the underlying RAA construct to assess abortion beliefs.
Objectives: Salient belief elicitations (SBEs), informed by the Reasoned Action Approach (RAA), are used to identify 3 sets of beliefs - behavioral, control, and normative - that influence attitudes toward a health behavior. SBEs ask participants about their own beliefs through open-ended questions. We adapted a SBE by focusing on abortion, which is infrequently examined through SBEs; we also included a survey version that asked participants their views on what a hypothetical woman would do if contemplating an abortion. Given these deviations from traditional SBEs, the purpose of this study was to assess if the adapted SBE was understood by participants in English and Spanish through cognitive interviewing. Methods: We examined participants' interpretations of SBE items about abortion to determine if they aligned with the corresponding RAA construct. We administered SBE surveys and conducted cognitive interviews with US adults in both English and Spanish. Results:Participants comprehended the SBE questions as intended. Participants' interpretations of most questions were also in line with the respective RAA construct. Conclusions: SBE survey questions were comprehended well by participants. We discuss areas in which SBE questions can be modified to improve alignment with the underlying RAA construct to assess abortion beliefs.
Authors: Danny Valdez; Kristen N Jozkowski; Katherine Haus; Marijn Ten Thij; Brandon L Crawford; María S Montenegro; Wen-Juo Lo; Ronna C Turner; Johan Bollen Journal: Pilot Feasibility Stud Date: 2022-06-16