Methodological Challenges of Including Children in Family Research: Measurement Equivalence, Selection Bias and Social Desirability

Havermans, Nele; Vanassche, Sofie; Matthijs, Koenraad

doi:10.1007/s12187-014-9275-1

Cited by 26 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Furthermore, a school-based self-administered survey may have the advantage of involving children living in Islamic boarding schools or other residential care institutions, a common practice in Indonesia (Center for Child Protection, University of Indonesia (PUSKAPA) UI 2014 ). Such surveys may also better protect children (Havermans et al 2015 ) as well as increase participation. Unfortunately, some vulnerable children, such as those not in school, child migrants or living on the street, will continue to be invisible to household- and school-based surveys.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Importance of Contextual Factors in Carrying Out Childhood Violence Surveys: a Case Study from Indonesia

Rumble¹,

Ramly²,

Nuryana

et al. 2017

Child Ind Res

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Nationally representative research into violence against children is necessary to understand the scale and complexity of such violence and to evaluate prevention efforts. To date, however, most countries do not have adequate data. In 2013, the government of Indonesia conducted a national Violence Against Children Survey (VACS). This was a cross-sectional household survey of male and female 13-to-24- year-olds designed to estimate physical, emotional, and sexual violence prevalence. The target was to interview at least 2580 individuals; but response rates were much lower than anticipated (females = 66.6%; males = 56.1%). Insufficient data was available across several variables and there were unexpected anomalies in obtained data. We conducted a retrospective analysis of the survey to understand impediments and to advise future national efforts in Indonesia and other low-to-middle-income contexts. Survey managers and implementers (n = 22) were interviewed online and in person. We also carried out secondary analysis of the child survey data to identify factors possibly associated with (non-)response and assessed field notes from interviewers. Culturally inappropriate timing of data-collection (during Ramadan) may have had a negative impact on household responsiveness and the availability of children at home. Face-toface interviews in households were considered to impede participation and disclosure. Survey field staff and managers expressed the need for deeper training and a more comprehensive pilot. Recommendations to improve privacy and anonymity include the use of self-administered questionnaires and school-based rather than at-home surveys. These and other findings from this case study may be useful in planning future surveys in Indonesia and similar social and cultural contexts.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Importance of Contextual Factors in Carrying Out Childhood Violence Surveys: a Case Study from Indonesia

Rumble¹,

Ramly²,

Nuryana

et al. 2017

Child Ind Res

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“…10 This can be a particular concern for studies of youth, because school-aged children may be especially prone to "report more socially desirable behavior (or less socially undesirable behavior) when they fear that this information is shared with their parents or other adult authorities." 11 In the context of an intervention, social desirability bias can be stronger or manifest differently in the intervention group because, by the nature of the intervention, those individuals have been coached to change the behaviors that they are subsequently asked about. A few studies have compared the discrepancy between self-reported and objectively measured data in participants in intervention versus control groups.…”

Section: Explanation Of the Error And Why The Practice Is Wrongmentioning

confidence: 99%

Childhood obesity intervention studies: A narrative review and guide for investigators, authors, editors, reviewers, journalists, and readers to guard against exaggerated effectiveness claims

Aw¹,

Altman²,

Baranowski³

et al. 2020

ESPE

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+ Prof. Altman contributed to this article prior to his untimely passing in June of 2018. His inclusion as an author here recognizes his contributions, though he was unable to approve of the final version. Disclosures Dr. Allison has received personal payments or promises for same from: Biofortis; Fish & Richardson, P.C.; HawkPartners; IKEA; Laura and John Arnold Foundation; Law Offices of Ronald Marron; Sage Publishing; Tomasik, Kotin & Kasserman LLC; Nestec (Nestlé); WW (formerly Weight Watchers International LLC). Donations to a foundation have been made on his behalf by the Northarvest Bean Growers Association and the United Soy Bean Board. Dr. Allison is an unpaid member of the International Life Sciences Institute North America Board of Trustees. Dr. Allison's institution, Indiana University, has received funds to support his research or educational activities from: Alliance for Potato Research and Education; Dairy Management Inc.; Herbalife; and the NIH. His prior institution, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, received grants, gifts or contracts from multiple food, beverage, and other for profit and non for profit organizations with interests in obesity, statistical methods, and research design. Dr. Baranowski discloses being employed by Baylor College of Medicine, his institution having NIH grants for his work, and having received speaking fees from the University of Georgia. Dr. Bland discloses that topics presented herein are related to a textbook for which he receives royalties; and has received travel accommodations from the University of Western Ontario and for the Health Services Research Board Senior Investigator Award. Dr. Brown has received travel expenses from

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“…Stated another way, bias induced by an intervention is a type of social desirability bias (ie, the tendency for individuals to answer or portray themselves in such a way to avoid criticism, adhere to perceived cultural norms, or garner praise) . This can be a particular concern for studies of youth, because school‐aged children may be especially prone to “report more socially desirable behavior (or less socially undesirable behavior) when they fear that this information is shared with their parents or other adult authorities.” In the context of an intervention, social desirability bias can be stronger or manifest differently in the intervention group because, by the nature of the intervention, those individuals have been coached to change the behaviors that they are subsequently asked about. A few studies have compared the discrepancy between self‐reported and objectively measured data in participants in intervention versus control groups.…”

Section: Inferential Error: Using Self‐reported Outcomes and Teachingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Childhood obesity intervention studies: A narrative review and guide for investigators, authors, editors, reviewers, journalists, and readers to guard against exaggerated effectiveness claims

et al. 2019

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Being able to draw accurate conclusions from childhood obesity trials is important to make advances in reversing the obesity epidemic. However, obesity research sometimes is not conducted or reported to appropriate scientific standards. To constructively draw attention to this issue, we present 10 errors that are commonly committed, illustrate each error with examples from the childhood obesity literature, and follow with suggestions on how to avoid these errors. These errors are as follows:using self-reported outcomes and teaching to the test; foregoing control groups and risking regression to the mean creating differences over time; changing the goal posts;ignoring clustering in studies that randomize groups of children; following the forking Prof. Altman contributed to this article prior to his untimely passing in June of 2018. His inclusion as an author here recognizes his contributions, although he was unable to approve of the final version.

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Methodological Challenges of Including Children in Family Research: Measurement Equivalence, Selection Bias and Social Desirability

Cited by 26 publications

References 20 publications

The Importance of Contextual Factors in Carrying Out Childhood Violence Surveys: a Case Study from Indonesia

The Importance of Contextual Factors in Carrying Out Childhood Violence Surveys: a Case Study from Indonesia

Childhood obesity intervention studies: A narrative review and guide for investigators, authors, editors, reviewers, journalists, and readers to guard against exaggerated effectiveness claims

Childhood obesity intervention studies: A narrative review and guide for investigators, authors, editors, reviewers, journalists, and readers to guard against exaggerated effectiveness claims

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