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Using Subject and Collateral Reports to Measure Alcohol Consumption

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Measuring Alcohol Consumption

Abstract

In this chapter, we will review and discuss the literature on the use of collateral (C) and subject (S) reports in the measurement of a subject’s alcohol consumption. The word collateral has several definitions, but here it should be viewed to mean accompanying or concomitant. As regards assessment of alcohol consumption, C reports provide a second measure of a subject’s drinking. In practice, the subject is asked to report about his or her drinking during a given time period (one measure), and the collateral is asked to report on the same information (second measure). Collaterals may have any relationship to subjects (spouse, friend, supervisor, and so forth); the only requirement is that the person has some basis, such as opportunity to observe, for reporting about a subject’s drinking.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Brown University Medical School, Providence, RI

    Stephen A. Maisto

  2. Research Institute on Alcoholism, Buffalo, NY

    Gerard J. Connors

Authors
  1. Stephen A. Maisto
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  2. Gerard J. Connors
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Rockville, Maryland, USA

    Raye Z. Litten  & John P. Allen  & 

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© 1992 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Maisto, S.A., Connors, G.J. (1992). Using Subject and Collateral Reports to Measure Alcohol Consumption. In: Litten, R.Z., Allen, J.P. (eds) Measuring Alcohol Consumption. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-0357-5_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-0357-5_4

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-6723-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-0357-5

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