Differential Attrition Rates and Active Parental Consent

Finn-Aage Esbensen, Michelle Hughes Miller, Terrance Taylor, Ni He and Adrienne Freng
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Finn-Aage Esbensen: University of Nebraska–Omaha
Michelle Hughes Miller: University of Nebraska–Omaha
Terrance Taylor: University of Nebraska–Omaha
Ni He: University of Texas–San Antonio
Adrienne Freng: University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Evaluation Review, 1999, vol. 23, issue 3, 316-335

Abstract: Active parental consent in survey research poses ethical and practical concerns. One common argument against the requirement of active consent procedures is its effect on participation rates. There is additional concern that higher risk groups may be underrepresented in the final sample. Empirical support of differential attrition, however, is lacking. In the current multisite longitudinal study, passive consent procedures were approved for the collection of pretest data. For subsequent years of data collection, active parental consent procedures were required. In this article, we use the pretest data to examine demographic, attitudinal, and behavioral differences between those students for whom active consent was provided and those for whom active consent was either denied or for whom no response was received. The results indicate that active consent procedures produce deleterious effects on participation rates and lead to an underrepresentation of at-risk youth in the sample.

Date: 1999
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:evarev:v:23:y:1999:i:3:p:316-335

DOI: 10.1177/0193841X9902300304

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