A Brief Comment About Sample Size and Response Rates for Clinical Research: A Multi-site Case Example
- PDF / 430,341 Bytes
- 11 Pages / 439.37 x 666.142 pts Page_size
- 60 Downloads / 124 Views
A Brief Comment About Sample Size and Response Rates for Clinical Research: A Multi-site Case Example Fung Yee Ching 1 & Rhiannon Chou Wiley 2 & Matthew A. Tom 2,3 & Ryan Hing Yan Wong 1 & Howard J. Shaffer 2,3 & Elda Mei Lo Chan 1,4
# Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2019
Abstract
During the past few decades, response rates have declined across social science research. Although some researchers are willing to accept this state of affairs, in this comment, we argue that low response rates weaken the value of social science research, thereby jeopardizing science research and associated knowledge. We describe the case of a Hong Kong-based multi-site study of addiction treatment seekers to examine approaches to stimulating clinical research and response rates. For this case of addiction treatment seekers, the overall response rate was acceptable (69.7%), despite variation among the three study sites. We discuss factors that likely contributed to this response rate variation to illustrate practical steps that investigators can undertake to improve response rates instead of capitulating to the status quo. Keywords Response rate . Research methods . Sample size
A Brief Comment About Sample Size and Response Rates for Clinical Research: a Multi-site Case Example In 1962, during his Yale University Commencement Address, John F. Kennedy noted that “[t]he great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie - deliberate, contrived, and dishonest but the myth - persistent, persuasive, and unrealistic”(Kennedy 1962). The generalizability and value of social science research results are each functions of the methodologies of the studies that produce those results. These features, for example, can
Public Policy Statement Although response rates in social science research are of vital importance, these rates have been decreasing. Some researchers consider this state of affairs acceptable, but we argue that it is imperative and feasible to incorporate various techniques that can increase response rates into study designs. This paper provides an example from a clinical research program with addiction treatment seekers in Hong Kong.
* Matthew A. Tom [email protected] Extended author information available on the last page of the article
International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction
include the study sample size, response rate, and retention rate. Scientists have the responsibility to determine whether their research has sufficient data for them to be confident about the results and to report their findings. Published research holds the potential to extend and or alter the extant body of scientific knowledge. In turn, these changes can influence public policy makers, scientists, and other stakeholders. Therefore, the rigor and quality of published research is of great importance. Inadequate research samples, whether due to small sample sizes, biased sampling frames, or poor response rates, lead to junk science. Junk science can lead to enduring myth. However, scientific literacy and researc
Data Loading...
