Assessing the repeatability of questionnaire data from dairy farms

Y. H. Schukken*, D. van de Geer, F. J. Grommers, A. Brand

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

The goal of the present study was to reveal the repeatability of queationnaire data from dairy farms. Interviewers visited 125 farms to conduct a questionnaire, which consisted of approximately 500 items on housing, general management, nutrition, milking and mastitis. A second questionnaire was delivered to 10% of the initial population (n = 12). The differences between the first and second questionnaire were classified as either a measurement error, or a farmer/interviewer difference, additionally coding and typing errors were determined. The number of errors per questionnaire ranged from 28 to 55, with a mean of 41.6 (13.4%). The results of this and other studies show that questionnaire data have errors associated with them. It is advisable to estimate the amount of error in the data, and to locate the errors. A study design which allows the analysis of interviewer effects and the recognition of variation in management is therefore advisable.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)31-38
Number of pages8
JournalPreventive Veterinary Medicine
Volume7
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 1989

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