Archival data: collection and use in community alcohol projects.
Archival data are considered useful for identifying problem areas, assessing levels of problems, and evaluation of interventions. However, few publications describe the process of collecting them and related potential obstacles. For the Safer California Universities study, archival data is expected to play a major role in identifying problem settings and the extent of alcohol use-related problems on the campuses. The project has experienced a number of obstacles in collecting these data. This article discusses strategies for collecting data, obstacles related to collecting them, solutions to these obstacles, and communication with partners on the campuses. The study's limitations are noted.
Nygaard
Peter
P
Prevention Research Center, Berkeley, California 94704, USA. pnygaard@prev.org
Bright
Kristin
K
Saltz
Robert
R
McGaffigan
Richard
R
D000437:Alcoholism; D002140:California; D019058:Community Networks; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D040261:Harm Reduction; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D017146:Models, Organizational; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods*; D014495:Universities