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Data management in a longitudinal cross‐cultural study
Author(s) -
John Roberts R.,
Musick Beverly S.,
Olley Bola,
Hall Kathleen S.,
Hendrie Hugh C.,
Oyediran Allen B. O. O.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
statistics in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.996
H-Index - 183
eISSN - 1097-0258
pISSN - 0277-6715
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0258(20000615/30)19:11/12<1645::aid-sim452>3.0.co;2-9
Subject(s) - data management , data collection , dementia , longitudinal data , computer science , coding (social sciences) , longitudinal study , software , relational database , case management , data science , operations management , database , medicine , process management , data mining , sociology , business , engineering , social science , disease , pathology , programming language
The Indianapolis–Ibadan Dementia Project compares the rates of dementia at two sites, one in the U.S.A. and one in Nigeria. This paper concentrates on the data management issues in this longitudinal cross‐cultural study. Approximately 2500 elderly people were recruited at each site, and continue to be re‐assessed every two years. All the data are collected on paper and then entered into a FoxPro relational database. Most of the data management, including data cleaning, is done in Indianapolis. The design of the data collection forms is particularly important in a cross‐cultural study, with the questions and the coding of responses clear and simple. Since Nigeria and the U.S.A. have different levels of technological development, the computer hardware and software were chosen to be suitable for use at either site. Exchange visits have been needed to address data management issues and resolve unexpected problems. The data management on cross‐cultural studies can be handled successfully, given careful planning. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.