title: A Critical Assessment of Bias in Survey Studies Using Location-Based Sampling to Recruit Patrons in Bars.
abstract: Location-based sampling is a method to obtain samples of people within ecological contexts relevant to specific public health outcomes. Random selection increases generalizability; however, in some circumstances (such as surveying bar patrons), recruitment conditions increase risks of sample bias. We attempted to recruit representative samples of bars and patrons in six California cities, but low response rates precluded meaningful analysis. A systematic review of 24 similar studies revealed that none addressed the key shortcomings of our study. We recommend steps to improve studies that use location-based sampling: (i) purposively sample places of interest, (ii) use recruitment strategies appropriate to the environment, and (iii) provide full information on response rates at all levels of sampling.
authors.affiliation: a Prevention Research Center, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation , Prevention Research Center , Oakland , California , USA.|b Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine , Monash University , Melbourne , Australia.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.affiliation: a Prevention Research Center, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation , Prevention Research Center , Oakland , California , USA.
authors.forename: Juliet P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: a Prevention Research Center, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation , Prevention Research Center , Oakland , California , USA.
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Gruenewald
authors.affiliation: c Department of Community and Behavioral Health , University of Iowa , Iowa City , Iowa , USA.
authors.forename: Miesha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marzell
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D002140:California; D006801:Humans; D012107:Research Design; D015983:Selection Bias
keywords: bars; location-based sampling; refusal bias; selection bias; survey; systematic review