Open AccessRecruitment in Qualitative Public Health Research: Lessons Learned During Dissertation Sample Recruitment
Author(s) -
Apophia Namageyo-Funa,
Marylen Rimando,
Andrea M. Brace,
Richard W. Christiana,
Tiffany L. Fowles,
Teaniese L. Davis,
Lourdes María Contreras Martínez,
DiadreyAnne Sealy
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the qualitative report
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2160-3715
DOI - 10.46743/2160-3715/2014.1282
Subject(s) - qualitative research , public health , sample (material) , medical education , psychology , population , selection (genetic algorithm) , public relations , sociology , medicine , political science , nursing , computer science , social science , chemistry , demography , chromatography , artificial intelligence
The purpose of this article is to describe the recruitment challenges faced by eight public health graduate students when conducting qualitative dissertation research. The authors summarize their dissertation studies, describe recruitment challenges, and provide strategies and recommendations used to address challenges. The authors identified twelve recruitment issues which they grouped into three major categories: (a) obtaining consent; (b) working with gatekeepers; and (c) accessing participants. The authors propose three recommendations to consider in participant recruitment, which are: (a) collaborate with gatekeepers; (b) use additional recruitment tools; and (c) understand your target population. The compilation of experiences from multiple graduate students from a diverse selection of topics provides valuable insight and resources when planning a qualitative research study in the field of public health.