How often were you absent? A review of the use of self-reported absence data.

For a number of reasons, self-reported absence data have often been used in research in lieu of records-based data. Forty-three studies that present self-reported absence data are reviewed. The purpose of the research is discussed, as is the rationale for using self-reports. The author considers the nature of self-report measures, including the time span of report, the response format, and the requirement for attributions as to cause. The psychometric properties of self-reported absence are summarized in terms of reliability, validity, and accuracy. Theoretical perspectives relevant to absence self-reports are presented. The author makes a number of recommendations for measuring, reporting, researching, and publishing self-reports of absence