This article provides descriptive information on procedures used to successfully follow a sample
of 241 premaritally pregnant urban adolescents participating in a longitudinal study of drug use
patterns. Respondents were interviewed once during pregnancy, with subsequent interviews at
1 month, 6 months, 12 months, and 18 months after pregnancy resolution. Only 1 respondent
refused to continue in the study, and temporary attrition due to inability to locate respondents
was only 1% to 3% at each wave of data collection. Successful methods for sample recruitment
and retention are discussed, emphasizing a multimethod approach.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Call, V.R., L.B. Otto, and K.I. Spenner.1982. Tracking respondents: A multi-method approachLexington, MA: D. C. Heath .
2.
Capaldi, D., and G.R. Patterson.1987. An approach to the problem of recruitment and retention rates for longitudinal researchBehavioral Assessment9:169-77.
3.
Crider, D., and F. Willits.1973. Respondent retrieval bias in a longitudinal surveySociology and Social Research58:56-65.
4.
Ellickson, P.L., D. Bianca, and D.C. Schoeff.1988. Containing attrition in school-based researchEvaluation Review12:331-51.
5.
Furstenberg, F.F., Jr. , J. Brooks-Gunn , and S.P. Morgan.1987. Adolescent mothers in later lifeCambridge: Cambridge University Press.
6.
Gilchrist, L.D., M.R. Gillmore, and M.J. Lohr.1990. Drug use among pregnant adolescentsJournal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology58:402-7.
7.
McAllister, R., E. Butler, and S. Goe.1973. Evolution of a strategy for the retrieval of cases in longitudinal survey researchSociology and Social Research58:37-47.
8.
Pirie, P.L., S.J. Thomson, S.L. Mann, A.V. Peterson, Jr., D.M. Murray, B.R. Flay, D. Phil, and J.A. Best.1989. Tracking and attrition in longitudinal school-based smoking prevention researchPreventive Medicine18:249-56.
9.
Rubin, A., and E. Babbie.1989. Research methods for social workBelmont, CA: Wadsworth.
