title: Exploring survey participation, data combination, and research validity in a substance use study: an application of hierarchical linear modeling.
abstract: A sound decision regarding combination of datasets is critical for research validity. Data were collected between 1996 and 2000 via a 99-item survey of substance use behaviors. Two groups of 7th-12th grade students in predominately White communities are compared: 166,578 students from 193 communities with high survey participation and 41,259 students from 65 communities with lower participation. Hierarchical logistic models are used to explore whether the two datasets may be combined for further study of community-level substance use effects. "Scenario analysis" is introduced. Results suggest the datasets may reasonably be combined. Limitations and further research are discussed.
authors.affiliation: School of Education, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA. becky.orsi@colostate.edu
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Orsi
authors.forename: Phillip L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.forename: Ruth W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Edwards
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D003256:Community Participation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003625:Data Collection / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*