During the Moritz Center for Societal Impact Lunch & Learn for May 2025, Dr. Danielle Parrish and Dr. Kirk von Sternberg shared key insights from their experience recruiting participants for CHOICES-TEEN, a research project aimed at reducing the risk of substance-exposed pregnancy and HIV/STIs among female youth.
The discussion focused on the recruiting process, and how throughout the recruitment process, the researchers have to be “very flexible and adapt constantly,” as Dr. Parrish noted. The researchers continually developed new strategies to increase participation, and both have found that diversifying methods and leveraging relationships with partners can facilitate the process.
An effective strategy Drs. Parrish and Von Sternberg implemented was integrating social media to directly reach and recruit adolescents. By taking a youth-informed approach to social media habits, they found a significant uptick in the number of referrals received.
In addition to using digital recruitment tools, Drs. Parrish and Von Sternberg emphasized the importance of building trust with community partners and approaching youth in settings that they preferred to receive quality insights. While establishing and maintaining these relationships take time, community connections can break down barriers to recruitment.
The conversation wraps the Spring 2025 sessions of the Moritz Center Lunch & Learn series. New researchers will be announced for the Fall 2025 semester.