Reliability of the High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey When Administered Online

Abstract

The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) is frequently used by states and local school districts for monitoring and assessing health risk behaviors among middle and high school youth in the United States. This study assessed the reliability of the High School YRBS questions when the survey is administered as a web-based survey. A test-retest reliability study was conducted on a sample of high school students in grades 9–12. Students self-administered an online version of the high school YRBS at two different time periods. Kappa scores were computed for all items in order to measure reliability. Items measured prevalence estimates of behaviors related to unintentional injuries and violence, tobacco use, alcohol and other drug use, and sexual behaviors. The mean kappa reliability score was similar to scores obtained in prior reliability studies of the YRBS when administered as paper surveys; 87% of the 69 selected items from the 79-item paper survey used had kappa scores that indicated moderate or substantial reliability. Findings indicate the reliability of the online High School YRBS when administered to students online and its potential as an alternative to paper survey.