Objective: Interactive voice response (IVR), a computer-based interviewing technique in which respondents interact directly with a computerized system, can increase a sense of privacy and potentially a willingness to report putatively sensitive attitudes and behaviors more accurately. The purpose of this study was to compare the prevalence rates obtained by IVR with computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) for alcohol-related problems, physical and sexual abuse, and sexual orientation.

Method: As part of the data collection effort for the 2005 National Alcohol Survey, subsamples of respondents were randomly assigned to three groups: two IVR groups, each receiving an IVR module on either alcohol-related problems (n = 562) or on physical/sexual abuse and sexual orientation (n = 563), and control groups that did not receive IVR (n = 559).

Results: Analyses indicate no significant differences between IVR and the control groups on alcohol-related problems. A significantly higher proportion of reports of homosexual and bisexual sexual identity was found in the IVR group for respondents 40 years and older. The IVR group also reported higher rates of condom use for respondents 18-39 years old.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that alcohol-related problems may no longer be considered sensitive items in the general adult population. However, reports of nonheterosexual sexual orientation identity remain sensitive for older respondents. Embedding IVR within a telephone interview may provide an effective way of helping assure valid responses to sensitive item content.