Purposeful sampling for qualitative data collection and. These actors may themselves open possibilities for an expanding web of contact. The procedures of chain referral sampling are not selfevident or obvious. Sociology at surrey university of surrey research socialupdate. Using social media and targeted snowball sampling to survey a. Snowball sampling, also known as chain referral sampling, is a nonprobability method of survey sam ple selection that. Snowball sampling is where research participants recruit other participants for a test or study. In this blog you will read about the types and method of snowball sampling along with its advantages and disadvantages. Referrals make it easy and quick to find subjects as they come from reliable sources. Probability sampling, advantages, disadvantages mathstopia. Then i will discuss the unique relationship between snowball sampling as a data accessing method and indepth interviewing. Snowball sampling is a type of convenience sampling method that is usually applied when it is difficult to acquire respondents with target characteristics naderifar et. An additional task is saved for a researcher, this time can be used in conducting the study. In some cases, sampling of members of a special population segment are require, but prove difficult to locate.
Simple random sampling and systematic sampling simple random sampling and systematic sampling provide the foundation for almost all of the more complex sampling designs based on probability sampling. Types of nonprobability random sampling quota sampling. In what follows i will first supply a brief background on snowball sampling, emphasizing the methods dynamic quality. As a result, the technique can result in biased samples. If data were to be collected for the entire population, the cost will be quite high. Thus, this method is also called as the referral sampling method or chain sampling method. Ask new cases to identify further cases and so on stop when. The formation of a sample group starts with one individual subject providing information about just one other subject and then the chain continues with only one referral from one subject. Pros and cons of different sampling techniques gaganpreet sharma.
Snowball sampling is a wellknown, nonprobability method of survey sample selection that is commonly used to locate hidden populations. The chain referral process allows the researcher to reach populations that are difficult to sample when using other sampling methods. Nonprobability sampling focuses on sampling techniques that are based on the judgement of the researcher see our article nonprobability sampling to learn more about nonprobability sampling. To study the consumption pattern of households, the people living in houses, hotels, hospitals, prison etc. The article provides the description and comparison of two nonrandom samplings which are snowball or chain referral sampling and sequential sampling. Sampling ensures convenience, collection of intensive and exhaustive data, suitability in limited resources and better rapport. Simple random sampling in this technique, each member of the population has an equal chance of being selected as subject.
Snowball s ampling is also known for several important advantages that. Pros and cons of different sampling techniques international. This sampling technique offers practical advantages such as having the social networks of identified participants that can provide an ever. The chain referral process allows the researcher to reach populations that are difficult to sample when using other sampling. Snowball sampling problems and techniques of chain referral sampling patrick blernackl sun francisco state university dan waldorf pacific institute for research and evaluation nowball or chain referral sampling is a method that has s been widely used in qualitative sociological research. The sampling method used for the survey was snowball sampling. Snowball sampling is a method of gathering information to access specific groups of people. One problem with snowball sampling is that participants social networks arent random. Pdf snowball sampling is a wellknown, nonprobability method of. Munich personal repec archive a manual for selecting sampling techniques in research alvi, mohsin university of karachi, iqra university 23 march 2016 online at mpra paper no. This article attempts to rectify this methodological neglect. This pattern is continued until enough number of subjects are available for the sample. Snowball sampling may help you discover characteristics about a population that you werent aware existed. Snowball sampling is a technique where a researcher picks the first few samples and either recruits them or asks them to recommend other subjects they know who fit the description of samples needed.
Snowball sampling was probably the only sampling method that could have been used to obtain a reasonably representative sample of injecting drug users. Dec 04, 2018 the snowball sampling method is extensively used where a population is unknown and rare and it is tough to choose subjects to assemble them as samples for research. From the listed the researcher has to deliberately select items to be sample. Snowball sampling has demonstrated as a second best method in conducting research in conflict environments like, in the context of the israel and arab conflict. Although there are several different purposeful sampling strategies, criterion sampling appears. Check the advantages and disadvantages of convenience sampling.
In addition to this, sampling has the following advantages also. A research on the habits, thoughts, views, and opinions of people can help us in the betterment of the society. It is used where potential participants are hard to. This article explains a what snowball sampling is, b how to create a snowball sample, and c the advantages and disadvantages limitations of. Quota sampling, accidental sampling, judgemental sampling or purposive sampling, expert sampling, snowball sampling, modal instant sampling. Major advantages include its simplicity and lack of bias. The snowball sampling is a nonrandom sampling technique wherein the initial informants are approached who through their social network nominate or refer the participants that meet the eligibility criteria of the research under study. Pdf comparision of snowball sampling and sequential. However, people who are involved in research studies and have educational opportunities should always consider individual rights and privacy. Snowball sampling may be defined as a technique for gathering research subjects through the identification of an initial subject who is used to provide the names of other actors. It begins with one or a few people or cases and spreads out on the basis of links to the initial cases. If the aim of a study is primarily explorative, qualitative and descriptive, then snowball sampling offers practical advantages hendricks, blanken and adriaans, 1992. To study the consumption pattern of households, the people living in houses, hotels. Snowball sampling also known as chainreferral sampling is a nonprobability nonrandom sampling method used when characteristics to be possessed by samples are rare and difficult to find.
The article provides a description and analysis of some of the problems that were encountered and resolved in the course of using the method in a relatively large exploratory study of exopiate addicts. Learn the pros and cons of quota sampling in this article. Snowball sampling is a type of convenience sampling method that is usually applied when it is difficult to acquire respondents with. In the ceo study, for example, if the first participant recruited happens to work in manufacturing, most of her ceo contacts are likely to also come from the manufacturing sector. A manual for selecting sampling techniques in research. A simple random sample is one of the methods researchers use to choose a sample from a larger population. It allows for studies to take place where otherwise it might be impossible to conduct because of a lack of participants. Unlike convenience samples, research subjects are selected for specific attributes that preliminary research has defined as targets. Insights from an overview of the methods literature abstract the methods literature regarding sampling in qualitative research is characterized by important inconsistencies and ambiguities, which can be problematic for students and researchers seeking a clear and coherent understanding.
They are also usually the easiest designs to implement. Convenience sampling is the most easiest way to do that. Snowball sampling in qualitative research sampling knowledge. For example, studies on mexican or other nationality migrants in a particular city in america can be done through snowball sampling. In such cases, snowball sampling is the best sampling method to choose. However, you should be fully aware of the pros and cons of convenience sampling before you conduct research.
Goodmans formulation requires an initial sample drawn using a probability method on a known sampling frame. The snowball sampling method has been derived from different concepts of social marketing. Snowball sampling is also known for several important advantages that. This method relies on referrals from initially sampled. Snowball sampling contradicts many of the assumptions underpinning conven tional notions of sampling but has a number of advantages for sampling. This method relies on referrals from initially sampled respondents to other persons believed to have the characteristic of interest.
The entire process of sampling is done in a single step with each subject selected independently of the other members of the. Purposeful sampling is widely used in qualitative research for the identification and selection of informationrich cases related to the phenomenon of interest. For example, if you are studying the level of customer satisfaction among elite nirvana bali golf club in bali, you will find it increasingly difficult. Snowball sampling social research update university of surrey. This often occurs when the population is somehow marginalized, like homeless or formerly incarcerated individuals or those who are involved in illegal activities. A study on purposive sampling method in research neetij rai bikash thapa chapter i. Snowball sampling is a popular technique among social scientists who wish to work with a population that is difficult to identify or locate. Snowball sampling is defined as a nonprobability sampling technique in which the samples have traits that are rare to find. This sampling technique needs little planning and fewer workforce compared to other sampling techniques. Assessing limitations and uses of convenience samples. Snowball sampling also called network, chain referral, or reputational sampling is a method for identifying and sampling the cases in a network. Snowball sampling has been widely used in qualitative sociological research, especially in the. Snowball sampling allows the investigators to approach the marginalized population at cognitive and emotional level and enroll them in study. Media and targeted snowball sampling 282 ples and the asystematic recruitment of research subjects in convenience samples on the one hand and the more rigid cluster and stratified samples on the other.
Snowball sampling or chainreferral sampling is defined as a a nonprobability sampling technique in which the samples have traits that are rare to find. This feature too is tied to the fact the snowball sampling makes use of natural social networks. Updated august 03, 2018 in statistics, sampling is when researchers choose a smaller. Snowball sampling can be applied for two primary purposes.
Simple random sampling in this technique, each member of the population has an. Application of snowball sampling involves the following stages. Establish a contact with one or two initial cases from the sampling frame. The process of snowballing has several advantages, firstly as alluded to above this process is a novel way in getting access to hidden populations of your identified sample. Advantages of snowball sampling its quicker to find samples. Probability sampling, advantages, disadvantages the way of sampling in which each item in the population has an equal chance this chance is greater than zero for getting selected is called probability sampling. Dec 20, 20 snowball sampling is used to recruit samples when members of the desired population are hard to reach or access because they feel disempowered, socially excluded, or vulnerable. A researcher hoping to survey business executives, for example, might struggle to convince busy ceos to take the time to fill out a survey. The biggest advantage of snowball sampling is that it helps researchers find more participants for studies than would be possible by other methods. Quota sampling is a nonprobability sampling technique in which researchers look for a specific characteristic in their respondents, and then take a tailored sample that is in proportion to a population of interest. Jan 26, 2017 this shows an additional level of detail and highlights a certain amount of rigour in the sampling process.
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