USDA Methodological Research for Large-Scale Dietary Intake Surveys, 1975-88

Since 1975, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has sponsored a substantial body of methodological research to improve its procedures for study of the dietary intake of individuals. This report summarizes studies conducted by researchers in universities and private research firms and relevant in-house research. The first chapter provides historical perspective as background for the research program. The last chapter explains how the researchers' findings have been incorporated in the ongoing dietary survey program of the Human Nutrition Information Service. Ten chapters presenting the purpose, methods, main findings, and conclusions of each study, along with tabular data, are important for understanding the research. The topics researched include cross-sectional and longitudinal survey approaches; in-person, telephone, and mail interviews; food recall, food record, and food frequency methods; and different numbers and spacing of days for collection of food intake. Two other chapters report a number of secondary analyses and in-house methodology studies and provide a comprehensive summary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture research on food composition, which is essential for analysis of dietary intakes.