Reference | Group covered | 'Positive' or 'negative' outcomes traced | Sample size | Tracking period | Number of re-contacts | Timing of re-contacts | Methods for locating sample | Retention/response rates |
1. Sosin, M., Piliavin, I. & Westerfelt, H. (1990) 'Towards a longitudinal analysis of homelessness', Journal of Social Issues, 46(4): 157-174. | Homeless individuals using services. | Both | 451 | 6 months | 1 | After 6 months | Used agency and family/friends informants. Also used change of address postcards, and signs and announcements in relevant services. Used two homeless people as 'searchers'. Paid $7 for the second interview. | 58% were re-interviewed. |
2. Cohen, E.H., Mowbray, C.T., Bybee, D., Yeich, S., Ribisl, K. and Freddolino, P.P. (1993) 'Tracking and follow-up methods for research on homelessness', Evaluation Review, 17(3): 331-353. | Individuals who were homeless and mentally ill. | Both | 163 | 1 year | 2 | After 4 months and 12 months | Main sources were informants (both agency and friends/relatives) and archives/records (from mental health and shelter services). Used same researcher to track each participant throughout. Were persistent and flexible to enable immediate response when participants 'surfaced'. Used telephone and face-to face contact with clients rather than written communication wherever possible. Used 'permission to locate' forms. Offered incentives. | At 4 months, 140 (86%) were found, and 124 (76%) completed follow-up interviews.
At 12 months, 135 (83%) were located, and 111 (68%) were re-interviewed. |
3. Wong, Y.L.I, Culhane, D.P. & Kuhn, R. (1997) 'Predictors of Exit and Re-entry among Family Shelter Users in New York City', Social Service Review, 71: 441-462. | Homeless families using shelters | Mainly negative - traced through re-entry to homeless shelters | 27,919 | 2 years | N/a - traced through administrative data | N/a - traced through administrative data | Tracked exits and re-entries to homeless shelters in New York using a unified database. | N/a - depended on whether exited or re-entered shelters. |
4. Wong, Y.L.I. & Piliavin, I. (2001) 'Stressors, resources, and distress among homeless persons: a longitudinal analysis', Social Science & Medicine 52: 1029-1042. | Homeless individuals using services | Both | 564 | Between 4 months and 1 year | 1 | After 4 months, up to 1 year | Noted that 'various tracking strategies' were employed but gives no details. Does comment that follow-up interviews were initially intended to take place after 4 months, but took up to 1 year because of search problems. | 81% were re-interviewed |
5. Bassuk, E.L., Perloff, J. N. & Dawson, R. (2001) 'Multiply homeless families: the insidious impact of violence', Housing Policy Debate, 12(2): 299-320. | Homeless families using shelters. | Both | 220 | 2 years | 2 | After 1 year and after 2 years | Not specified, but were apparently 'successful' | Retention rate was 76 % at 2 years. 61 families were lost at 1 year, and a further 48 were lost at 2 years. However 19 families not found at 1 year were re-contacted at 2 years. |