Studied the effects of program and patient characteristics on patient retention in residential, out-patient, and methadone maintenance drug treatment programs. Data for 26,047 patients in 87 programs show that threshold retention rates were generally low for all 3 program types, although program practice and service provision played important…

Presents procedures for reducing attrition in clinical research and provides a case study for examination by researchers. Includes lists of preventative strategies and statistical methodologies to reduce attrition and bias. Argues that early planning for attrition by adjusting sample sizes is a scientifically sound approach to clinical research…

Although time and resource intensive, longitudinal studies offer the ability to examine the direction and magnitude of causal relationships that cannot be accomplished through cross-sectional design. (Contains 1 figure.)

Most of the observational study of marriage has focused on relatively young and highly educated couples from professional backgrounds; working-class couples, older couples, and couples from distressed marriages seem reluctant to volunteer for research on close relationships. The development of techniques for recruiting these couples represents an…

Examines the mortality experience in 1979-81 of three first generation Hispanic subpopulations in the United States. Reports that mortality is relatively high among adolescents and young adults, particularly males, largely due to violent deaths. Aged migrants exhibit relatively low death rates from heart disease and cancer. (KH)

Health effects of migration were studies among Chinese Americans living inside and outside of Chinatowns. For most causes of death both populations showed a common level of mortality. In spite of the data limitations in this study, the findings were compatible with transition experiences noted for Japanese migrants. (VM)

The Colorado Treatment Outcome Study, a longitudinal study of people with mental illness, developed an integrated management approach that resulted in average recontact rates of 95% in each followup year. The approach includes multiple facets with an emphasis on partnership of all participants and agencies and respect for the individual. (SLD)

Reviews the problems associated with recruiting older minorities into mental health research studies and proposes a consumer-centered model of research methodology that addresses the barriers to recruitment and retention in this population. Results reveal that although the consumer-centered methods result in better recruitment of older minorities…

In a study of the supply and demand of teachers, a state teacher workforce database was analyzed to determine why language teachers were leaving in downstate Illinois. Recommendations are offered for future attrition databases and analyses. (13 references) (Author/LB)

Examines the problem of attrition from therapeutic treatment programs, discussing the scope and limitations of research about the causes of subject attrition. Examines the applicability of proposed methodological remedies for assessing and countering attrition. Such research often suffers from inadequate conceptualization and weak design. (SLD)

The purpose of this study is to see if older adults who experience problems with thought suppression tend to encounter greater difficulty deriving a sense of meaning in life. Data from a longitudinal nationwide survey of older people (N = 988) indicate that greater difficulty with thought suppression is associated with a decline in meaning over…

Two perspectives on carrying capacity and population growth are examined. The first perspective, "Carrying Capacity and Rapid Population Growth: Definition, Cases, and Consequences" (Robert Muscat), explores the possible meanings of the idea of carrying capacity under developing country conditions, looks at historical and present-day cases of…

The bias attributable to nonresponse in population estimates in the field of education was studied. Data were collected from responses to mathematics and science exercises administered by the National Assessment of Educational Progress to a probability sample of 17-year olds, as well as a probability sample selected from nonrespondents.…

Examined job tenure among 85 individuals with psychiatric disabilities. Surveyed clients' demographic, clinical, and vocational histories, their initial reactions to specific jobs, and aspects of the work environment. The average job lasted 70 days. Longer tenure was predicted by previous work history, early satisfaction with the job, lower…

Studies the causes of infant deaths among Nigerian children and the relative contributions of neonatal and postneonatal mortality to infant mortality. (CB)