Recruitment Issues in School-Based Research: Lessons Learned from the High 5 Alabama Project
Document Type
Article
Department
Community and Global Health (CGU)
Publication Date
1997
Disciplines
Medical Nutrition | Medicine and Health Sciences
Abstract
School-based research requires a multi-level recruitment process to ensure an adequate sample. This article describes the High 5 Alabama recruitment experience at four levels: district, school, classroom and individual. One hundred percent of 28 schools across three districts and 108 classroom teachers contacted agreed to participate. Moderate success (69%) at the individual level, which required active parental consent for the student and parent to participate, resulted in 1,698 student/parent participants. An examination of differences between participants and nonparticipants revealed under-representation of a subsample of the population in the project sample. Suggestions obtained from project staff and teachers intended to enhance future school-based recruitment strategies include enlistment of a district advocate; meeting with teachers to solicit support; using incentives with students and teachers; direct contact with parents; having teachers keep rosters of students returning consent forms; and tailoring recruitment strategies for specific subpopulations.
Rights Information
Copyright © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Terms of Use & License Information
DOI
10.1111/j.1746-1561.1997.tb01287.x
Recommended Citation
Harrington KF, Binkley D, Duvall RC, Reynolds KD, Copeland JR, Franklin F, Raczynski JM. Recruitment issues in school-based research: Lessons learned from the High 5 Alabama Project. J School Health 67:415-421, 1997.
