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Improving the Reliability of Retrospective Survey Measures

Results of a Longitudinal Field Survey

University of Vermont

Data from a panel study of the impact of a low-income cooperative on its members are employed to compare the relative advantages of three different methods of measuring change. Although analysis confirmed the often reported unreliability of retrospective compared to true panel measurements, it also showed that "pseudo panel" retrospective approximations of panel measurements are greatly superior to change assessments made by respondents themselves. Finally, the three different types of change measures are compared in actual estimations of the impact of project participation on members. Results of this comparison confirm that, although true longitudinal designs arepreferable, pseudo panel measures of change may sometimes be acceptable and should definitely be preferred to the third, more subjective assessments of change.

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