I wanted to start by giving you a heads up about my style and philosophy when it comes to No Attrition and follow-up research in general. So here we go…
1. I will rub some of you the wrong way.
I made a commitment to offer advice that will bring the most success in research follow-up, including a change of attitude, work habits, and approach to people. My experience is that some researchers don’t want to hear this because they have a ton of education. Having a stellar education is necessary for running a research project, but the most important factor in successful follow-up is experience with people, not books. I think this scene from Good Will Hunting gets at what I mean.
You do research with people. People come into the study, and people come back for follow-up.
2. If your attitude is that you can’t, you won’t.
At every training I did, there was always a “can’t” person. For every strategy I suggested (not required) they would go to great lengths to explain why you can’t utilize it. IRB won’t like it, violation of confidentiality, not enough staff time, not enough money, ninjas will pounce on you if you do it, etc. One person refuted calling, writing and going by their address. OOOOOK, telepathy? Good luck with that.
Just for the record, I believe IRB’s, confidentiality and the other factors are of the utmost importance for the safety of your clients and the validity of your research. (If I didn’t believe this, I wouldn’t have lasted 7 hours, let alone 7 years in research) The point is you need to focus on the many strategies you can utilize within those restrictions, and there are many.
If my advice is taken as more work, as opposed to more opportunity for success, there’s going to be problems. The attitude will guarantee failure. The funny thing is that it’s not my job, my funding, or my research reputation on the line. It’s yours.
And your work is too important to focus on what you can’t do.
3. Researchers are marketers.
I’m sure you love hearing this! But it’s true. You market your project to get funding and client enrollment, but it doesn’t end there. You have to market the return for follow-up to your research participants. Whether you like it or not, human beings are selfish animals. They do what they want, not what they should. So I will be including marketing concepts and putting them in the research world. You’ve been warned.
4. My research background can be applied to any research project involving human participants.
I spent all of my time in prevention research (7 years) working with hardcore drug users. So I may mention strategies and stories that you may think only applies to this specific type of research. This is not the case.
The underlying idea or belief is just as important as the specific strategy. For instance, I suggest that prevention researchers find out where and when their clients buy drugs. When you know where someone might be, finding them is easier. So how would that apply to a cancer research subject in her mid-50’s who lives in the Hamptons? Find out where and when she has coffee, or whatever she likes to do. (You might think this is unnecessary because you have her phone number and you’ll just call and she’ll answer, but what if she doesn’t? Expect the unexpected.)
5. I love this stuff.
I seriously thought I was addicted to doing follow-up work. Finding someone who didn’t think they could be found was an amazing feeling for me. I felt it was a game to find these people, and I hated losing. A big part of winning is preparation. Have you ever heard the idea of “getting inside the head of the opponent?” It’s not just an idea. It will be the key to tracking your research subjects and as a result, a low attrition rate.
Thanks again for coming along for the ride. Please comment and respond!
