縱貫性研究是以長時間的觀察所欲研究變項變化的歷程，顯而易見地，執行縱貫性研究勢需耗費相當多的資源，因此大多數的研究若非有相對的資源投入，否則將難以執行，同時這也將對於研究的發展性以及研究議題的深度產生深遠的影響；而其中定群研究則是為單純的縱貫性研究，只是投入長時間針對同一樣本進行追蹤並不容易，期間與樣本的接觸、聯繫都可能影響研究的成果，樣本流失更是必需面臨的課題，可惜的是，多數的定群研究均缺乏詳細敘明其在樣本追蹤過程所採行的策略，其追蹤樣本經驗無法清楚得窺及有效傳承，故本文蒐集了國內外不同的研究，藉剖析其樣本追蹤過程可能面臨的困境以及因應策略，探究樣本追蹤的方法以提升研究效能，最後歸納出研究進程中的四個階段（研究始期、樣本尋找、樣本追蹤以及研究後期）以及不同階段中可資採行的策略。

Longitudinal research helps us to discover and examine the trajectories associated with the research subjects. Apparently, it would be expensive and timeconsuming. Unless the relative resources are invested, longitudinal research would be difficult to implement. Such above will affect the depth and the width of the research. Tracking the respondents in panel studies is one of a kind. Sample attrition when research is progressing may deeply affect the results. Unfortunately, in the most of the panel studies, the strategies of tracking the respondents are rarely mentioned. The experience cannot be completely passed. On the bases of the collected articles, this study attempts to compare and analyze the adopted strategies of different studies to explore the better way to track respondents, and improve the efficacy of the research.