Implications of asking "ambiguous" difficulty questions: An analysis of the second wave of the asset and health dynamics of the oldest old study

Objectives. This study explores the analytic implications of using question s about difficulty with daily activities that do not specify whether to con sider assistance. Methods. For 1,054 Asset and Health Dynamics of the Oldest Old Study Wave ? respondents, we compared responses to questions about difficulty without r eference to assistance (ambiguous difficulty) to those about difficulty wit hout help or equipment (underlying difficulty) and difficulty with help or equipment, if used (residual difficulty). We modelled predictors of discord ance by means of logistic regression. Results. Discordance exists for 15% of respondents between summary variable s indicating underlying and ambiguous difficulty with one or more activitie s. Discrepancies are evenly split between respondents reporting (a) underly ing but no ambiguous difficulty and (b) ambiguous but no underlying difficu lty. Discordance also exists for 15% of respondents between summary variabl es indicating residual and ambiguous difficulty with one or more activities : most of these discrepancies involve reports of ambiguous bur no residual difficulty. Mast respondent characteristics investigated are not significan t predictors of discrepancies. Discussion. Analysts should be aware that (a) ambiguously worded questions appear to be a better proxy for underlying than for residual difficulty, (b ) discrepancies seem to be lower for separate activities than for summary v ariables indicating difficulty with one or more activities, and (c) being H ispanic and receiving help may affect reporting discrepancies.