The impact of recruitment-generated bias on qualitative research interviews with foster children

In a public child welfare agency, 6 children were recruited for a pilot qualitative study about foster children's transitions from birth homes to out-of-home care. Recruitment was protracted and in-depth and involved contact with children, birth parents, and foster parents. While conducting qualitative research interviews with the children, knowledge was gained about the impact of recruitment-generated bias on such interviews, a topic about which there appears to be no prior literature. Detailed vignettes illustrate how such bias can constrict the researcher's ability to understand foster children's communications. The impact of recruitment-generated bias on the researcher's professional relationships is identified. Suggestions to help researchers counter recruitment-generated bias and ideas for further study of recruitment-generated bias are offered.