Anonymity and Confidentiality in School Surveys on Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Use

Abstract

School surveys are currently the most important method of collecting data on alcohol and drug use among youth. Although methodological studies suggest that school surveys yield reliable and valid estimates of substance use among youth, it has been argued that results will be affected by the level of perceived anonymity. Longitudinal research designs raise an important question in this respect since follow-up makes complete anonymity impossible. In fact, responses to such surveys should be regarded as confidential rather than anonymous. This study compares the reported use of cigarettes, alcohol and cannabis between an anonymous, cross-sectional survey and a confidential, longitudinal survey. Both females and males in the confidential survey have a slightly higher rate of non-response for lifetime cannabis use. Furthermore, females tend to be slightly less likely to admit to any use of alcohol and cannabis in the confidential survey, and those who do admit to having used cigarettes and alcohol, report slightly fewer occasions. The correlations between use of cigarettes, alcohol, and cannabis are not affected by this bias. These results add further support to earlier research that has found school surveys to be a robust method of data collection, and suggests that the bias introduced by identification numbers in longitudinal research has limited practical significance.