Abstract
Objective
To determine the validity and reliability of a nutrition knowledge questionnaire for
adults in California.
Methods
A convenience sample of adults was recruited for cognitive interviews. A mail-based
survey of 400 randomly selected addresses was used to assess internal consistency
(Cronbach α). Researchers assessed content validity (Student t test) and test–retest reliability (Pearson correlation) in a convenience sample of
university students who had previously taken a college nutrition course, compared
with students who had not.
Results
Twenty adults participated in cognitive interviews, 94 adults returned the mailed
questionnaire, and 48 university students participated in validity and reliability
testing. Cronbach α = .91 and test–retest r = 0.95, demonstrating internal consistency reliability and test–retest reliability.
Students who had taken a college-level nutrition course scored significantly higher
compared with students who had not (P < .001), demonstrating construct validity.
Conclusions and Implications
Findings show that the questionnaire is a valid and reliable nutrition knowledge measure
for use in California and may be of use in other places.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: September 18, 2014
Accepted:
August 4,
2014
Identification
Copyright
© 2015 Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
