Telephone Recruitment of a Random Stratified African American and White Family Study Sample

Abstract

Few researchers have documented procedures and methods for recruitment of a random sample to assess risky health-related behavior, such as substance use, across different ethnicities. This study describes the recruitment methods used to attain a stratified sample of 368 target youths (African American and White males and females from 9-, 11-, and 13-year-old cohorts), along with all household family members aged 9 and older, representing families in 58 different neighborhoods. Recruitment was conducted primarily by telephone, using computer-aided telephone interviewing (CATI) software. Approximately 45% of calls resulted in contact. About 1% of families qualified, of which about 75% agreed to participate. The telephone recruitment was supplemented by door-to-door recruitment in selected neighborhoods.

The average cost of telephone recruitment was approximately $169 per family. Advantages and limitations of the recruitment method are discussed.

Key Words:

• Family
• recruitment
• random
• telephone
• substance use