Nonequivalence of on-line and paper-and-pencil psychological tests: the case of the prospective memory questionnaire

Behav Res Methods. 2005 Feb;37(1):148-54. doi: 10.3758/bf03206409.

Abstract

There is growing evidence that Internet-mediated psychological tests can have satisfactory psychometric properties and can measure the same constructs as traditional versions. However, equivalence cannot be taken for granted. The prospective memory questionnaire (PMQ; Hannon, Adams, Harrington, Fries-Dias, & Gibson, 1995) was used in an on-line study exploring links between drug use and memory (Rodgers et al., 2003). The PMQ has four factor-analytically derived subscales. In a large (N = 763) sample tested via the Internet, only two factors could be recovered; the other two subscales were essentially meaningless. This demonstration of nonequivalence underlines the importance of on-line test validation. Without examination of its psychometric properties, one cannot be sure that a test administered via the Internet actually measures the intended construct.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Data Collection
  • Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / statistics & numerical data*
  • Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions*
  • Factor Analysis, Statistical
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Internet*
  • Male
  • Memory / drug effects*
  • Neuropsychological Tests / statistics & numerical data
  • Prospective Studies
  • Psychological Tests / statistics & numerical data*
  • Psychometrics / statistics & numerical data
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Software
  • Surveys and Questionnaires*