When digital versions of self-report symptom scales are compared to pen and paper versions , most scales show high interformat reliability .
This supports the reliability of results obtained in psychotherapy research on the Internet and the comparability of the results to traditional psychotherapy research .
BACKGROUND Research on Internet-based interventions typically use digital versions of pen and paper self-report symptom scales .
However , adaptation into the digital format could affect the psychometric properties of established self-report scales .
Several studies have investigated differences between digital and pen and paper versions of instruments , but no systematic review of the results has yet been done .
OBJECTIVE This review aims to assess the interformat reliability of  self-report symptom  scales used in digital or online psychotherapy research .
Social desirability, anonymity, and internet-based questionnaires
It has been argued that behavior on the Internet differs from similar behavior in the “ real world ” ( Joinson , 1998a ) . In the present study , participants completed measures of self-consciousness , social anxiety , self-esteem , and social desirability  , using either the World-Wide Web ( WWW ) or pen and paper , and were assigned to either an anonymous or a nonanonymous condition . It was found that people reported lower social anxiety and social desirability and higher self-esteem when they were anonymous than when they were nonanonymous . Furthermore , participants also reported lower social anxiety and social desirability when they were using the Internet than when they were using paper-based methods . Contrast analyses supported the prediction that participants using the WWW anonymously would show the lowest levels of social desirability , whereas participants answering with pen and paper nonanonymously would score highest on the same measure . Implication s for the use of the Internet for the collection of psychological data are discussed
When digital versions of self-report symptom scales are compared to pen and paper versions , most scales show high interformat reliability .
This supports the reliability of results obtained in psychotherapy research on the Internet and the comparability of the results to traditional psychotherapy research .
BACKGROUND Research on Internet-based interventions typically use digital versions of pen and paper self-report symptom scales .
However , adaptation into the digital format could affect the psychometric properties of established self-report scales .
Several studies have investigated differences between digital and pen and paper versions of instruments , but no systematic review of the results has yet been done .
OBJECTIVE This review aims to assess the interformat reliability of  self-report symptom  scales used in digital or online psychotherapy research .