Sampling Hard-to-Reach Americans in Canada
Author Information
Author(s): Danielle A Southern, Steven Lewis, Colleen J Maxwell, James R Dunn, Tom W Noseworthy, Gail Corbett, Karen Thomas, William A Ghali
Primary Institution: University of Calgary
Hypothesis
Can a multi-step media approach effectively sample hard-to-reach populations in health research?
Conclusion
The multi-step communication method successfully yielded a sufficient sample of Americans living in Canada.
Supporting Evidence
- The study reached its recruitment goal of 200 participants within two months.
- 458 unique individuals accessed the online survey, with 310 providing usable responses.
- 56% of respondents learned about the survey through media outlets.
Takeaway
The researchers used different media strategies to find and survey Americans living in Canada, and it worked well to get enough people to respond.
Methodology
A multi-step approach including media releases, op-eds, advertisements, and word-of-mouth to recruit participants for a web-based survey.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to self-reported data and the characteristics of non-responders.
Limitations
The sample was skewed towards high socioeconomic status individuals and those living in Alberta, and there was no way to ensure participants did not respond multiple times.
Participant Demographics
Respondents ranged from 22 to 90 years old, with a median age of 47; 43% were male, and most had high socioeconomic status.
Statistical Information
P-Value
< 0.01
Confidence Interval
95% CI
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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