NCJ Number
70792
Journal
Sociological Methods and Research Volume: 9 Issue: 1 Dated: (August 1980) Pages: 87-98
Date Published
1980
Length
12 pages
Annotation
Techniques used to minimize response loss in a longitudinal study which maintained an 89 percent response rate over five interviews covering a 15-year period are described.
Abstract
The techniques used centered on procedures for relocating respondents for subsequent interviews and the necessity of maintaining respondent cooperation over repeated interviews. The longitudinal study involved used a probability sample of women residing in the Detroit metropolitan area who had just married or given birth to a first, second, or fourth child. The study focused on changes in family-building plans and in actual parity to see how these changes were related to other family characteristics. The first interview was conducted in 1962, with the fifth interview sought in 1977. Techniques for locating the respondents over the 15-year period included an updating of subjects' addresses and telephone numbers at each interview, the listing of the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of three relatives or friends likely always to know where the subject is living (also updated at each interview), and training of staff to adhere closely to all procedures intended to facilitate the location of the subject throughout the study. Techniques for building respondent rapport and cooperation throughout the study included reminding the respondent of her previous participation as an aid to reintegrating her into the study, periodic letters to each respondent informing her of the study's progress, and personalized questionnaires used with each respondent throughout the study. Notes and eight references are provided.