Reconceptualizing Recruitment in Qualitative Research

Isaac Bonisteel,Leigh A Newhook,Roger Chafe,Sharon Smith,Astrid Guttmann,Rayzel Shulman

doi:10.1177/16094069211042493

Abstract

Adequate participant recruitment is critical for any qualitative research project. Our research team experienced numerous difficulties when attempting to recruit young adults with type 1 diabetes to discuss their transition from pediatric to adult-focused care. Using our experience as a case study, we identify the activities involved in four phases of participant recruitment: (1) development of a recruitment plan, (2) implementation, (3) participant engagement post-data collection, and (4) post-recruitment assessment. We present a new definition of participant recruitment which better captures the range of activities involved. We discuss aspects impacting recruitment in our case: the influence of other stakeholders, the dynamic nature of recruitment, recruitment of specific populations, and the challenges of recruiting within a healthcare environment. Finally, we identify and consider four factors that impact participant recruitment: communication, participant interest/value, participant trust in the research project, and participant availability and consider potential strategies for overcoming barriers related to each factor. In the end, our case underscores the centrality and potential fluidity of participant recruitment within qualitative research.

Highlights

Many qualitative researchers have struggled with issues related to participant recruitment (Hudson et al, 2017; James et al, 2014; Jessiman, 2013)
We present a new definition of participant recruitment that better captures the range of activities involved and identify some of the lessons learned from our case
Our study highlights the problems that can arise for recruitment in qualitative research

Summary

Introduction

Many qualitative researchers have struggled with issues related to participant recruitment (Hudson et al, 2017; James et al, 2014; Jessiman, 2013). We include aspects of our project that impacted or influenced our recruitment efforts Some of these activities are clearly part of what researchers consider as part of the recruitment process, for example, identifying eligible participants and contacting them to invite them to participate. The conditions set by the research funders led to the project being conducted in multiple centers This multi-center approach resulted in the project going through three different ethics reviews, with the ethics review boards influencing the timing of recruitment, the level of information about potential participants that was shared with the research team, and the methods of data collection. Because it was beyond the scope of our project, we did not follow up with participants to evaluate why our recruitment in one part of the study appeared to work much better than the other

Conclusion

Ethical approval in ON