title: Using social exchange theory to guide successful study recruitment and retention.
abstract: Participant attrition (withdrawal or loss after entering a study) is a major threat to the completion of valid studies. It can result in systematic error (selection bias), thus decreasing the statistical power of studies and limiting the generalisability of study findings. This paper demonstrates how key social exchange theory principles form the theoretical context for our practice, which, in turn enables us to form enduring relationships with study participants.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing, University of Calgary, Canada.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: McGregor
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: LeBlanc
authors.forename: Kathryn M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: King
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research / Q000379:methods*; D010358:Patient Participation; D018579:Patient Selection; D012919:Social Behavior