JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Recruitment and retention of participants are important factors in empirical studies. Methods that increase recruitment and retention can reduce costs and burden on researchers related to the need for over-recruitment due to attrition. App-based rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft are a potential means for decreasing this burden.

Objective:

To understand how provision of app-based rideshare services are associated with participant retention and recruitment in research.

Methods:

Data are presented for a study (N=42) in which rideshare services were utilized for participant transportation to and from study visits during a two-session, in-laboratory research study.

Results:

Retention at visit two was greater than 95% in the initial study. In a follow-up survey of the participants from the original trial, participants (N=32) reported that the rideshare service was an important reason they returned for all study visits. Participants reported whether they would prefer differing levels of additional monetary compensation or a ride from a rideshare service. When the additional compensation was less than $15, participants reported a preference for the rideshare service.

Conclusions:

Rideshare services may represent a relatively low cost means for increasing study retention. Specifically, findings indicate that rideshare services may not be crucial for initial participant recruitment, but for their retention in multi-visit studies.