SNOWBALL SAMPLING
Statistics and Data Analysis
Group Members
Washana Young
Atiyya Harry
Marlon Bowen
Madu Chukwudera
Louis Oben
What is snowball sampling?
Snowball sampling is a non-probability sampling method where new recruits
by other units to form part of the sample. Snow-ball sampling can be a useful
way to conduct research about people with specific traits who might
otherwise be difficult to identify
Example: people with a rare disease
Snowball sampling is also known as chain sampling or network sampling
When to use snowball sampling?
Snowball sampling is helpful when research subject populations are unknown
or difficult to contact. This research method can have applications in many
fields such as:
Medical research
Many researchers in the medical field use snowballing sampling to contact
people who have rare or less researched diseases .This research can be used to
aid the development and understanding of those conditions.
Social Research
Researchers in this field use snowball sampling to gather as many
participants as possible to gain information about a population. For
example, researchers may use snowball sampling to study
homeless populations.
Cases of discord
This sampling method is also used to study sensitive topics, or
topics that people may prefer not to discuss publicly. This is
usually due to a perceived risk associated with self-disclosure.
Snowball sampling allows you to access these populations while
considering ethical issues, such as protecting their privacy and
ensuring confidentiality.
Snowball sampling begins with a convenience sample of one
or more initial participants. Multiple data collection points (or
waves) follow. These initial participants, called “seeds,” are
used to recruit the first wave’s participants.
Wave 1 participants recruit wave 2 participants, and the
sample expands, wave by wave, like a snowball growing in
size as it rolls down a hill.
Types of snowball sampling
• Linear snowball sampling
• Exponential non-discriminative snowball sampling
• Exponential discriminative snowball sampling
Linear snowball sampling
Linear snowball sampling relies on one referral per participant. In
other words, the researcher recruits only one participant, and this
participant, in turn, recruits only one participant. This process goes
on until you have included enough participants in the sample.
Linear snowball sampling works best when there are few
restrictions (called inclusion and exclusion criteria) as to who is
included in the sample.
Exponential non-discriminative snowball sampling
In exponential non-discriminative snowball sampling, the first
participant provides multiple referrals. In other words, the
researcher recruits the first participant, and this participant in
turn recruits several others.
The researcher includes all referrals in the sample. This type of
snowball sampling is best used when you want to reach a larger
sample.
Exponential discriminative snowball sampling
In this method, participants give multiple referrals. However, the researcher
screens those referrals, choosing only those who meet specific criteria to
participate in the sample. The key difference between this and exponential
non-discriminative snowball sampling is that not all referrals are included in
the sample.
Exponential discriminative snowball sampling is most used when screening
participants according to specific criteria is vital to your research goals.
Advantages of snowball sampling
• Snowball sampling helps you research populations that you would not be
able to access otherwise.
• Since snowball sampling involves individuals recruiting other individuals, it
is low-cost and easy to recruit a sample in this way.
• Unlike probability sampling, where you draw your sample following
specific rules and some form of random selection , snowball sampling
is flexible. All you need is to identify someone who is willing to participate
and introduce you to others.
Disadvantages of snowball sampling
• As the sample is not chosen through random selection, it is not
representative of the population being studied. This means that you cannot
make statistical inferences about the entire population and there is a high
chance of research bias.
• The researcher has little or no control over the sampling process and relies
mainly on referrals from already-identified participants. Since people refer
others whom they know (and share traits with), this sampling method has a
high potential for sampling bias.
• Relying on referrals may lead to difficulty reaching your sample. People
may not want to cooperate with you, hesitate to reveal their identities, or
mistrust researchers in general.
Thank you ;)
