Since the start of LSAC in 2004, approximately 85% of all families have responded every main wave. One of the reasons for such a good response rate is the ongoing respondent engagement, well maintained contact details, and effective sample tracking.

This presentation will highlight some of the methods used in past waves and those planned for future waves to combat sample attrition - specifically, methods to track study families who have moved house or changed contact details, as well as combining engagement strategies with the opportunity for families to update their contact details.

Whilst pro-active attempts are made to encourage study participants to advise us of any change to their contact details (change-of-details cards are attached to the calendars given as gifts to participants, links are available on websites, etc.) every wave throws up new cases of ‘lost’ families.  From wave 2 onwards, between 5-6% of all study families have been recorded as ‘non-contacts’.  The primary method for tracking lost respondents has been by attempting to match them to Medicare registration records. In the 2009 (between main waves of data collection) there were 125 families found this way.

For the 2011 mid-wave tracking, it is intended to develop an interactive web-based package to allow ease of reporting, direct entry of contact information by the respondent into the system, and reduction in respondent burden.  Also included in this online package will be a section for the study children to answer some fun questions about themselves.  This idea developed after focus group sessions in which several children stated that they wished there were more questions about their interests and hobbies.  Results from these fun questions could be fed back to the study families as part of the newsletters in an attempt to increase their interest in the study and satisfaction in participating.

The effectiveness and issues associated with other methods to track families will also be covered, include using email and alternative contacts.