Snowball sampling is a research method used to study populations that are difficult to access, such as undocumented immigrants or individuals with rare diseases. It relies on participants' networks to refer new subjects, creating a chain of referrals. This technique is crucial for gathering data on sensitive topics and marginalized groups, despite potential biases and the need for ethical oversight.
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Snowball sampling is a non-probability sampling technique used to study hard-to-reach or hidden populations
Snowball sampling is employed to study populations that are difficult to reach or identify, such as undocumented immigrants or people with rare diseases
Snowball sampling is particularly effective for researching hidden or marginalized groups, as it allows for the collection of data despite challenges in achieving a representative sample
Snowball sampling can be linear or exponential, with the latter further divided into non-discriminative and discriminative models
In linear snowball sampling, each participant refers one other participant to the study
In exponential snowball sampling, participants may refer several others to the study, and can be either non-discriminative or discriminative
Snowball sampling is utilized in various disciplines, such as sociology, public health, and psychology, to study behaviors, experiences, or phenomena within hard-to-access populations
Snowball sampling is particularly useful for studying sensitive topics, such as HIV/AIDS or domestic violence, where participants may be unwilling to come forward
Studies using snowball sampling must undergo ethical review to ensure informed consent and confidentiality
Snowball sampling allows for access to populations that may otherwise be overlooked or unwilling to participate in research, and can be cost-effective and time-efficient
Snowball sampling may introduce sampling bias and homophily bias, limiting the generalizability of the findings