Retaining Hard-to-engage populations in longitudinal studies: a research note on rapid data collection with former foster care youth in NYC

Attrition is a persistent issue in the study of the transition to adulthood for youth who have aged out of foster care. One solution to ameliorate selection problems resulting from attrition is employing what we refer to as rapid data collection, a panel research approach aimed at reducing barriers to participation and keeping youth engaged in the project through frequent, brief survey modules. Drawing from our experience employing rapid data collection with youth transitioning out of foster care in New York City, where participants complete brief surveys including rotating modules on a bi-weekly basis (n = 290), we investigate attrition and provide recommendations for employing this approach. We found that nearly a third of youth enrolled in the study completed the baseline survey and no follow up surveys (n = 94). However, among those who completed at least one follow up survey (n = 196), almost half completed every survey. Youth who were not enrolled in school, not working and not looking for work, used the internet less than several times a day, and male or gender minority youth (relative to female youth) completed fewer follow-ups. Rapid data collection holds promise for keeping youth at high risk of attrition involved in longitudinal research, at least for youth who can make the transition to the brief repeated surveys. Future research using rapid data collection should prioritize using a brief baseline survey and conduct a test comparing attrition between a rapid data approach and a more traditional longer-term follow up approach.