Built-in Reliability Checks for Questionnaires

Abstract

rank high. The figures for the Netherlands seem low both as to total value consumed and as to qualitative composition; this points to possible flaws in the basic consumption estimates. Similarly, Belgium may appear underestimated because its high-quality consumption (in the sense of more expensive grades) cannot find adequate expression in the application of one average price scale. The Mediterranean countries consume only about two-thirds of the total value per capita compared with the highest ranking countries in Northern and Western Europe. In qualitative composition they are not quite as low-between 75 and 80 per cent of the value per 1,000 calories in the highest ranking Western and Northern European countries. It seems unlikely that qualitative composition in Italy is somewhat below Spain, Portugal and Greece as shown by these figures, which again may indicate flaws in basic consumption estimates. Otherwise the data as here calculated seem reasonable. It is also interesting to note that in the comparison country, India, the total value of consumption per capita is less than one-third of what it is in Northern and Western Europe and less than one-half of consumption in Eastern Europe. If the influence of lower energy intake is eliminated -perhaps on the theory that it would represent the difference in physical energy requirements-the qualitative difference would still be enormous: value per 1,000 calories consumed in India is less than one-half of that consumed in Northern and Western Europe and only about two-thirds of the value per 1,000 calories in Eastern Europe.