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An evaluation of a self‐generated identification code
Author(s) -
DiIorio Colleen,
Soet Johanna E.,
Van Marter Deborah,
Woodring Tammy M.,
Dudley William N.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
research in nursing and health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1098-240X
pISSN - 0160-6891
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1098-240x(200004)23:2<167::aid-nur9>3.0.co;2-k
Subject(s) - coding (social sciences) , medicine , data collection , matching (statistics) , anonymity , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , identification (biology) , family medicine , psychology , medical education , computer science , computer security , statistics , mathematics , botany , pathology , biology
We describe a self‐generated coding form used in a study of HIV prevention practices of college students and provide information on the success rate of matching questionnaires over a 3‐year period using the form. The data for this study were from a longitudinal study of HIV risk‐reduction practices of college students. In order to match questionnaires over the 3‐year study period while maintaining anonymity, participants were asked to complete a self‐generated identification form at each data collection point. In the second year of the project, we were able to successfully match 74.3% of the questionnaires to those returned during the first year using 6 to 8 of the code elements on the form, and in the third year, we were able to match 73% of questionnaires to those returned in the second year. Participants for whom questionnaires matched were more likely than participants with unmatched questionnaires to be white students enrolled as underclassmen. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Res Nurs Health 23:167–174, 2000