Interview vs. paper-and-pencil administration of the McGill pain questionnaire

Abstract

In a 2 .times. 2 design, college student subjects described 1 of 2 levels of cold pressor pain (threshold or tolerance) with the McGill Pain Questionnaire [MPQ] administered via 1 of 2 modes (interview or paper-and-pencil). Interview administration was associated with higher scores on 5 of the 6 MPQ scores calculated. This effect is apparently not entirely attributable to increased probability of interviewed subjects'' endorsement of descriptors for which clarification of meaning was sought. Reliable effects of pain intensity were also found on 5 of the 6 measures, but in no case did pain intensity and mode of administration significantly interact.