Module 4 Lecture 32

Question 1

Youth2000 Survey

Answer 1

• The cross sectional survey involved a random sample of students attending NZ secondary schools
• Each student in secondary schools had an equal probability of being invited to complete the survey
• The popular survey had a high response rate
• Survey was reasonably representative of young people in secondary schools in NZ

Question 2

How reliable might this information be?

Answer 2

• Anonymous and confidential which would increase likelihood of honesty
• Self-reported (directly into tablet rather than responding to an interviewer)
• This reduces but does not eliminate the likelihood that respondents are providing socially desirable rather than completely honest answers

Question 3

Reverse Causality in cross-sectional studies

Answer 3

• It is difficult to know which came first (exposure or outcome of interest) in cross sectional surveys when questions refer to similar recall periods
• Research factors interest in investigating if one factor caused another are best examined using cohort studies where people with the exposure of interest are followed over time to check if they experience outcomes of interest

Question 4

Resilience

Answer 4

the ability to spring back despite adversity, this means people with various protective (or resiliency) factors may be less vulnerable to harm despite exposure to risk

Question 5

What approach promotes sources of resilience and what does it focus on

Answer 5

Strength based approaches; focus on strategies for positive youth development

Question 6

Strengths of Youth2000 Surveys

Answer 6

• Nationally representative surveys of secondary school students providing a profile of young people in NZ
• Cross-sectional studies can collect data on many exposures and outcomes of interest at the same time
• The M-CASI technology was popular and the anonymity increased a sense of privacy of information among students
• Students are more likely to provide honest answer as its a direct measure —-> less measurement bias
• Students more likely to respond to and complete the survey because they enjoyed the experience and felt engaged —-> better response rate

Question 7

Limitations of Youth2000

Answer 7

• Recruitment Bias problems: young people not at school (e.g. dropouts and truants) who are likely to be at higher risk of adverse health outcomes and have fewer positive connections as well as those with disabilities not being able to complete the survey
• Reverse causality problems where we don’t know whether the exposure or outcome came first
• Students may provide the ‘socially desirable’ answer rather than honest responses to sensitive questions
• We can’t get back to youth whose responses may indicate they are vulnerable or at risk
• Students with some disabilities or language difficulties may not complete the survey