The utility of multiple strategies for understanding complex behaviors

Abstract

Nickerson's critique of our brief report on changes in knowledge, attitudes and use of condoms among adolescents over a year's time mistakenly interprets the paper as examining an attitude/behavior discrepancy. A number of her criticisms follow from this mistaken interpretation. We agree with some of her general points but identify several errors in her analysis and note areas of disagreement about strategies for studying complex behaviors.