McCreesh, Nicky; Copas, Andrew; Seeley, Janet; Johnston, Lisa G; Sonnenberg, Pam; Hayes, Richard J; Frost, Simon DW; White, Richard G; (2013) Respondent driven sampling: determinants of recruitment and a method to improve point estimation. PloS one, 8 (10). e78402-. ISSN 1932-6203 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0078402
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Respondent-driven sampling (RDS) is a variant of a link-tracing design intended for generating unbiased estimates of the composition of hidden populations that typically involves giving participants several coupons to recruit their peers into the study. RDS may generate biased estimates if coupons are distributed non-randomly or if potential recruits present for interview non-randomly. We explore if biases detected in an RDS study were due to either of these mechanisms, and propose and apply weights to reduce bias due to non-random presentation for interview. METHODS: Using data from the total population, and the population to whom recruiters offered their coupons, we explored how age and socioeconomic status were associated with being offered a coupon, and, if offered a coupon, with presenting for interview. Population proportions were estimated by weighting by the assumed inverse probabilities of being offered a coupon (as in existing RDS methods), and also of presentation for interview if offered a coupon by age and socioeconomic status group. RESULTS: Younger men were under-recruited primarily because they were less likely to be offered coupons. The under-recruitment of higher socioeconomic status men was due in part to them being less likely to present for interview. Consistent with these findings, weighting for non-random presentation for interview by age and socioeconomic status group greatly improved the estimate of the proportion of men in the lowest socioeconomic group, reducing the root-mean-squared error of RDS estimates of socioeconomic status by 38%, but had little effect on estimates for age. The weighting also improved estimates for tribe and religion (reducing root-mean-squared-errors by 19-29%), but had little effect for sexual activity or HIV status. CONCLUSIONS: Data collected from recruiters on the characteristics of men to whom they offered coupons may be used to reduce bias in RDS studies. Further evaluation of this new method is required.
Item Type | Article |
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Faculty and Department |
?? EPED ?? Faculty of Public Health and Policy > Dept of Global Health and Development ?? EPIH ?? |
Research Centre |
Tropical Epidemiology Group ?? 208138 ?? |
PubMed ID | 24205221 |
ISI | 326373800019 |
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