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Predictive validity of the theory of planned behaviour: the role of questionnaire format and social desirability
Author(s) -
Armitage Christopher J.,
Conner Mark
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of community and applied social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.042
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1099-1298
pISSN - 1052-9284
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-1298(199907/08)9:4<261::aid-casp503>3.0.co;2-5
Subject(s) - psychology , theory of planned behavior , social desirability , social psychology , predictive validity , context (archaeology) , predictive power , social comparison theory , food choice , identity (music) , computer assisted web interviewing , developmental psychology , marketing , control (management) , medicine , paleontology , philosophy , physics , business , management , epistemology , pathology , acoustics , economics , biology
The present study was designed to assess the predictive validity of a theory of planned behaviour extended to include self‐identity, in the context of health‐related food choice. Following criticism of the use of questionnaires in social cognitive research, the impact of questionnaire format (random vs structured) and social desirability on questionnaire responses was assessed. Findings indicated that intention was the principal determinant of food choice; attitude, subjective norm and self‐identity were independently predictive of intention. There was only weak evidence to suggest effects of social desirability or questionnaire format on component relationships. The present study indicates that the impact of questionnaire format and social desirability on models such as the theory of planned behaviour is minimal, and that such models are robust predictors of food choice. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.