Sampling and Statistical Quality Control Made Easy for the Cia Review Exam

Snowball Sampling: Definition

Snowball sampling or chain-referral sampling is defined every bit a non-probability sampling technique in which the samples have traits that are rare to find. This is a sampling technique, in which existing subjects provide referrals to recruit samples required for a research study.

For case, if you lot are studying the level of customer satisfaction among the members of an elite country order, y'all will notice it extremely hard to collect primary information sources unless a member of the club agrees to accept a direct chat with y'all and provides the contact details of the other members of the lodge.

This sampling method involves a principal data source nominating other potential data sources that volition be able to participate in the inquiry studies. Snowball sampling method is purely based on referrals and that is how a researcher is able to generate a sample. Therefore this method is also called the concatenation-referral sampling method.

Snowball sampling is a popular business study method. The snowball sampling method is extensively used where a population is unknown and rare and information technology is tough to choose subjects to assemble them as samples for research.

This sampling technique tin can continue and on, just like a snowball increasing in size (in this case the sample size) till the time a researcher has enough data to clarify, to draw conclusive results that can assist an organisation make informed decisions.

Learn more: Non-Probability Sampling for Social Research

Types of Snowball Sampling

1. Linear Snowball Sampling: The germination of a samplegroup starts with one individual subject providing information about merely i other subject and then the chain continues with only one referral from one subject. This design is continued until enough number of subjects are available for the sample.
2. Exponential Non-Discriminative Snowball Sampling: In this type, the first field of study is recruited and then he/she provides multiple referrals. Each new referral then provides with more data for referral and so on, until there is enough number of subjects for the sample.
3. Exponential Discriminative Snowball Sampling: In this technique, each subject gives multiple referrals, however, merely ane subject is recruited from each referral. The choice of a new subject depends on the nature of the research study.

Learn more: How to Determine Sample Size for your Next Survey

Snowball Sampling Method

The nature of snowball sampling is such, that it cannot be considered for a representative sample or in that case for statistical studies. However, this sampling technique can be extensively used for conducting qualitative research , with a population that is hard to locate.  Let usa now explore how snowball sampling can be carried out:

Consider hypothetically, y'all as a researcher are studying the homeless in Texas Metropolis. Information technology is obviously difficult to notice a list of all the details of the number of homeless there. Yet, you lot are able to place i or two homeless individuals who are willing to participate in your enquiry studies.

Now, these homeless individuals provide you with the details of other homeless individuals they know. The first homeless individual that you plant for your research is the primary data. You lot can collect the information and tabulate data from the primary data source and motility on to other individuals who the master data source has referred to. You as a researcher can continue to tap as many homeless you tin can find through the reference provided till you know you take collected plenty data for your research.

The same strategy can be followed to conduct inquiry or study individuals belonging to certain underground subculture, or individuals who have a hidden identity or are members of a cult etc. who don't want to exist identified easily.  Trust is an important part of any researcher.

Learn more: Secondary Research

An individual, who is ready to share data, needs to know that the information volition be used discreetly and this kind of trust is especially important in snowball sampling. For a participant to agree to place themselves or their group, researchers first demand to develop that kind of rapport with the participants. Please know that this sampling technique may swallow more fourth dimension than predictable because of its nature.

Snowball sampling analysis is conducted once the respondents submit their feedback and opinions. The information nerveless can be qualitative or quantitative in nature, and can be represented in graphs and charts on the online survey software dashboard such as the ane provided past QuestionPro.

Larn more than: Convenience Sampling- Definition, Method, and Examples

Snowball Sampling Applications

Snowball sampling is usually used in cases where there is no precalculated list of target population details (homeless people), there is immense pain involved in contacting members of the target population (victims of rare diseases) , members of the target population are non inclined towards contributing due to a social stigma attached to them (hate-crime, rape or sexual abuse victims, sexuality, etc.) or the confidentiality of the organization respondents piece of work for (CIA, FBI or terrorist system).

Thus, this type of sampling is preferred in the following applications:

• Medical Practices: There are many less-researched diseases. There may be a restricted number of individuals suffering from diseases such as progeria, porphyria, Alice in Wonderland syndrome etc. Using snowball sampling, researchers tin can get in bear upon with these difficult to contact sufferers and convince them to participate in the survey research .
• Social research: Social research is a field which requires as many participants every bit possible as information technology is a process where scientists learn almost their target sample. When social research is to be conducted in domains where participants might non necessarily willing to contribute such as homeless or the less-fortunate people.

• Cases of discord: In example of disputes such as an act of terrorism, violation of ceremonious rights and other like situations, the individuals involved may oppose giving their statements for evidential purposes. The researchers or direction can apply snowball sampling, to filter out those people from a population who are most likely to have acquired the situation or are witness to the consequence to gather proof around the event.

Snowball Sampling Examples

For some population, snowball sampling is the just fashion of collecting information and meaningful information. Post-obit are the instances, where snowball sampling can be used:

1. No official listing of names of the members: This sampling technique can be used for a population, where at that place is no easily available data like their demographic information. For case, homeless or list of members of an elite club, whose personal details cannot be obtained easily.

2. Difficulty to locate people: People with rare diseases are quite difficult to locate. Notwithstanding, if a researcher is carrying out a enquiry written report similar in nature, finding the master data source can be a challenge. Once he/she is identified, they usually have information almost more such similar individuals.

3. People who are not willing to be identified: If a researcher is carrying out a study which involves collecting data/data from sex workers or victims of sexual assault or individuals who don't want to disclose their sexual orientations, these individuals will fall under this category.

4. Secretiveness well-nigh their identity: People who belong to a cult or are religious extremists or hackers commonly fall under this category. A researcher will have to utilise snowball sampling to identify these individuals and excerpt data from them.

Advantages of Snowball Sampling

1. Information technology's quicker to find samples: Referrals make information technology easy and quick to detect subjects as they come from reliable sources. An additional task is saved for a researcher, this time can exist used in conducting the study.
2. Toll constructive: This method is cost effective as the referrals are obtained from a primary data source. Information technology's is convenient and not and so expensive equally compared to other methods.
3. Sample hesitant subjects: Some people do not want to come forrad and participate in research studies, because they don't want their identity to be exposed. Snowball sampling helps for this state of affairs as they ask for a reference from people known to each other. There are some sections of the target population which are hard to contact. For case, if a researcher intends to sympathize the difficulties faced by HIV patients, other sampling methods volition not be able to provide these sensitive samples. In snowball sampling, researchers can closely examine and filter members of a population infected by HIV and bear a research by talking to them, making them empathize the objective of research and eventually, analyzing the received feedback.

Disadvantages of Snowball Sampling

1. Sampling bias and margin of error: Since people refer those whom they know and have similar traits this sampling method can take a potential sampling bias and margin of error. This ways a researcher might but be able to reach out to a small group of people and may not be able to complete the study with conclusive results.

2. Lack of cooperation: There are fair chances even after referrals, people might not exist cooperative and pass up to participate in the research studies.

Larn more about the other Non-Probability Sampling Techniques:

• Convenience Sampling
• Consecutive Sampling
• Quota Sampling

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