215 – Statistical Issues in Children's Studies
Sample Design Issues in The National Children's Study
Ruth A. Brenner
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
David L. Hubble
Westat
The National Children's Study will examine the effects of the environment, as broadly defined to include factors such as air, water, diet, sound, family dynamics, community and cultural influences, and genetics on the growth, development, and health of children across the United States, following them from before birth until the age of 21 years. This paper describes the national probability sample with counties at the first stage of sampling and two methods for the second stage of sampling, geographical segments and providers. Initial promising results testing an alternate provider-based recruitment strategy within the geographical segment method have led to recent explorations of designing a provider-based sampling method at the second stage in three study locations. We discuss the statistical, sampling, operational, and recruiting issues and implications of these alternative second stage sampling methods. While this paper is focused on these design and operational experiences, the NCS continues to explore additional design options.
