Data management in a longitudinal cross-cultural study

✍ Scribed by R. John Roberts; Beverly S. Musick; Bola Olley; Kathleen S. Hall; Hugh C. Hendrie; Allen B. O. O. Oyediran

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2000
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 44 KB
• Volume: 19
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0277-6715
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0258(20000615/30)19:11/12<1645::aid-sim452>3.0.co;2-9

✦ Synopsis

The Indianapolis-Ibadan Dementia Project compares the rates of dementia at two sites, one in the U.S.A. and one in Nigeria. This paper concentrates on the data management issues in this longitudinal cross-cultural study. Approximately 2500 elderly people were recruited at each site, and continue to be re-assessed every two years. All the data are collected on paper and then entered into a FoxPro relational database. Most of the data management, including data cleaning, is done in Indianapolis. The design of the data collection forms is particularly important in a cross-cultural study, with the questions and the coding of responses clear and simple. Since Nigeria and the U.S.A. have di erent levels of technological development, the computer hardware and software were chosen to be suitable for use at either site. Exchange visits have been needed to address data management issues and resolve unexpected problems. The data management on cross-cultural studies can be handled successfully, given careful planning.