TRACKING AND FOLLOW-UP METHODS FOR RESEARCH ON HOMELESSNESS

To conduct comprehensive treatment effectiveness studies, evaluators m ust frequently track, locate and interview service recipients long aft er program participation has ended. For some populations, this is an a rduous task. But, despite wide variations in retention rates, the publ ished literature from follow-up studies rarely provides information on their tracking, locating, or interviewing techniques. The present rep ort concerns a 12-month follow-up study of individuals who were homele ss and mentally ill, which achieved a remarkably high retention rate-o ver 70%. Quantitative information is presented on client characteristi cs related to locatability and agreement to be interviewed, as well as qualitative information on successful techniques, from a focus group session with research interviewers.