Validation of an online questionnaire measure of the relative reinforcing value of food.

Laboratory methods and questionnaires to assess the relative reinforcing value of food (RRV-F) have been developed, but this is the first study to validate an online questionnaire measure of the RRV-F. Participants (281 college students) completed an online survey assessing demographic variables, food preferences, and the RRV-F. A subsample (n=21) also completed a laboratory food choice session. The online RRV-F instrument showed strong predictive validity for laboratory food choice behavior, convergent validity with overweight status, and discriminant validity with unrelated constructs (age, gender, height). Results suggest that online methodology is appropriate for assessing the RRV-F in a manner that is cost-effective, time-efficient, affords greater anonymity, and enables recruitment from larger samples over a broader geographic region.