Using social exchange theory to guide successful study recruitment and retention.
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.
McGregor
Lisa
L
Faculty of Nursing, University of Calgary, Canada.
Parker
Karen
K
LeBlanc
Pamela
P
King
Kathryn M
KM
D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research / Q000379:methods*; D010358:Patient Participation; D018579:Patient Selection; D012919:Social Behavior