Research Tools for Assessing Eating Disorders

This chapter provides some guidelines for those struggling with decisions about which measures to use in a research context. While it emphasizes the use of assessment measures for treatment outcome research, the guidelines are applicable across research contexts. Researchers have many methods of assessment from which to choose, from interviews to selfreport instruments to behavioral measures such as test meals. While it is beyond the reach of the chapter to discuss all aspects of choosing a method of assessment, some issues particularly pertinent to the assessment of eating disorders (EDs) are reviewed. Test meals allow for the assessment of multiple aspects of eating behavior and can be an excellent way to verify the validity of self-report assessment tools. The chapter focuses on two main justifications for choosing assessment measures and discusses the pros and cons of each.