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Sampling bias occurs in research when a large percentage of subjects who are eligible for the study refuse to participate. During Phase I of a two-phase multisite Mother-Baby Feeding Project, approximately 50% of the 235 potential participants at four of five sites declined to enter the study. This report compares subjects who fully participated with those who minimally participated and explores factors related to subjects' refusal to participate. Data regarding sociodemographic data, breast-feeding experience, and reason for refusal were collected from 92 subjects who declined to enter but agreed to minimally participate. The fully participating subjects had more education than those who participated minimally. However, the breast-feeding outcomes studied were similar for both groups. This provides support for generalizing additional study findings beyond the group of fully participating subjects when considering breast-feeding outcomes. Findings lend insight into the problem of subject recruitment that is not well-addressed in the nursing literature.
Hill et al. (1995) studied this question.