Case #5: Developing a Strategy for Data Collection

This case guides students in meeting the following NCHEC area of responsibility and associated competencies:

Area IV. Conduct Evaluation and Research Related to Health Education and Promotion

4.1.6 Develop a sampling plan and procedures for data collection, management, and security

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Instructions

To successfully complete this case, read the case information below and use it to write a 1-2 page paper answering the questions posed at the end of this document. Please format this as a short paper; do not just respond to each bullet point/question.

Case Information

Imagine that you are working for the Monroe County Department of Public Health, headquartered in Rochester, New York. Your supervisor is concerned about the prevalence of tuberculosis (Tb) among the homeless population in Rochester. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2013) has indicated that Tb disproportionately impacts homeless individuals, as they often live in crowded conditions (e.g., shelters), have comorbid infections, and/or lack access to early medical care.

Given this information, your supervisor wants you to survey homeless residents of Rochester to determine their experiences with Tb and Tb screening.You are not providing screening. You are simply trying to survey homeless individuals to learn more about whether they have been screened in the past and whether the county should develop/improve their Tb screening program.

Your job is to develop a recruitment and sampling strategy to obtain participants for this survey.  As you think about recruitment and sampling, keep in mind the following:

• Once subjects are recruited, participants will complete an in-person paper/pencil based surveyto examine their experiences with Tb and Tb screening.
• You will not ask for the participant’s name or any other identifying information.
• Participants will not be compensated for participating in your study.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2013). Tb in the homeless population. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/populations/homelessness/default.htm.

Part I. Outline Methods of Recruitment/Sampling

• Describe – in step-by-step detail – how you will recruit participants for your study; Provide careful rationale for each decision made.
  • Identify (using terminology from your notes) the type of sampling strategy you propose to employ
  • Explain where recruitment will occur (Be specific and realistic; If you believe that local organizations or locations are relevant to recruitment, name those organizations/locations)
  • Identify who would be responsible for recruiting participants
  • Explain how recruitment will occur
  • Explain when recruitment would occur (e.g., time of day, time of year, etc.)
• Create a simple draft of a recruitment announcement. This could take the form of either a paper flyer that you would distribute to potential participants or a script that you would read aloud to potential participants. It should appear exactly how you would use it in practice (e.g., “Good morning. I am here to provide you with detail about a study….”) Ensure it outlines the following information:
  • Methods of the study (What will participants be asked to do?)
  • Risks/benefits of the study (if any)
  • Voluntariness
  • Confidentiality (How will you protect participants’ data?)
  • Compensation

Part II. Evaluate your Strategy

• Explain why you chose your selected sampling strategy
• Evaluate the representativeness of your sample. In other words, will your sample adequately represent all homeless individuals in Rochester, New York? Why or why not?
• How could you improve the representativeness of your sample?