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Evaluation & the Health Professions, Vol. 26, No. 2, 180-205 (2003)
DOI: 10.1177/0163278703026002004

Measurement in Abstinence Education

Critique and Recommendations

Thomas E. Smith

Florida State University

Julie A. Steen

Florida State University

Jennifer Spaulding-Givens

Florida State University

Andrea Schwendinger

Florida State University

The purpose of this article is to identify, assess, and offer solutions to common measurement errors found in sexual abstinence education evaluation. A critical review of the methodology of adolescent sexuality research was performed. "Gold standards" of their measurement strategy were derived and applied against 14 selected studies. Many of the articles reviewed had substantial limitations in their measurement strategies. However, several articles demonstrated excellence and serve as models for future efforts. Sexual abstinence education evaluation is plagued by the inherent weaknesses of self-report and health outcome measures. However, with careful adherence to the gold standards proposed, it is possible to limit the threat from these weaknesses, maximizing the benefit of self-report surveys and county-level health indicators.

Key Words: sexual abstinence education • evaluation of abstinence education • measurement error • program evaluation • self-report measures • health outcome measures • instrument error • respondent error • adolescent • sexuality


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