ON THE USE OF CHECKLIST MEASURES OF COPING IN STUDIES OF ADAPTATION TO CANCER

Self-report checklist measures of coping continue to be widely used in research on cancer adaptation. The article considers the appropriaten ess and usefulness of checklist measures for studying the process of c oping in this research. Some deficiencies of the conventional applicat ion of checklists are discussed, including the failure of checklist da ta to provide information on (1) the precise character of coping effor ts, (2) the intentions underlying the use of specific coping mechanism s, and (3) the natural history or sequencing of coping efforts. Sugges ted refinements to the checklist methodology, such as the addition of focused probes to follow up endorsed checklist items, are discussed, a nd the strengths and weaknesses of two promising alternative or comple mentary methods, diaries and narrative analysis, are outlined. Finally , impediments to and impetuses for change in the assessment of coping are considered.