What is snowball sampling, and in which situations can it be applied?
Snowball sampling is a non-probability sampling technique where existing participants recruit future participants from their acquaintances or networks. It’s often used in situations where the target population is difficult to access, either because they are rare, hidden, or hard to identify.
How it works:
The researcher identifies a small group of initial participants (seeds) who meet the study criteria.
These participants refer or recommend others in their network, who then refer more participants, and the sample grows like a "snowball."
Situations where it can be applied:
Hard-to-Reach Populations: When the target group is difficult to identify, such as drug users, undocumented immigrants, or members of niche social or professional groups.
Sensitive Topics: When studying sensitive subjects where individuals may not want to openly identify themselves (e.g., certain medical conditions, illegal activities).
Small, Tight-Knit Communities: In cases where trust is needed for people to participate, and direct access is limited to outsiders.
Snowball sampling is useful for exploratory research but may not provide a fully representative sample, as it relies on participants' personal networks.
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