A comparison of confidential versus anonymous survey procedures: Effects on reporting of drug use and related attitudes and beliefs in a national study of students

This study presents a comparison of reporting of drug use and related attit udes and beliefs by national samples of eighth and tenth grade students und er two different modes of administration conditions: confidential and anony mous. The results show that there were clearly no differences between the c onditions in tenth graders' reports of drug use and related attitudes and b eliefs. With eighth graders, the results show, at most, only a very modest mode of administration effect and quite possibly no effect at all. The resu lts are reassuring to researchers who conduct surveys of drug use and relat ed attitudes and beliefs among secondary school students.