When the defined population with the sample is unavailable, this method can prove effective in finding the sample subjects. The biggest advantage of snowball sampling is that it helps researchers find more participants for studies than would be possible by other methods. Rather, the researchers used their own judgment to choose participants. Rather, they should be asked to encourage others to come forward. Snowball sampling is where research participants recruit other participants for a test or study. Disadvantages of Snowball Sampling. Based on the Word Net lexical database for the English Language. For example, if a researcher intends to understand the difficulties faced by HIV patients, other sampling methods will not be able to provide these sensitive samples. As a result, the technique can result in biased samples. There are some sections of the target population which are hard to contact. Regardless of how old we are, we never stop learning. It’s called snowball sampling because (in theory) once you have the ball rolling, it picks up more “snow” along the way and becomes larger and larger. The solution is snowball sampling, a practice in which a small group of initial participants help researchers find more participants by accessing their social networks. With Chegg Study, you can get step-by-step solutions to your questions from an expert in the field. A researcher hoping to survey business executives, for example, might struggle to convince busy CEOs to take the time to fill out a survey. Some people may not want to be found. Snowball sampling is also known as cold-calling, chain sampling, chain-referral sampling, and referral sampling. (n.d.). This is a sampling technique, in which existing subjects provide referrals to recruit samples required for a research study. Snowball sampling is a commonly employed sampling method in qualitative research, used in medical science and in various social sciences, including sociology, political science, anthropology and human geography [1–3].As is typical of terms adopted by a variety of fields, however, the phrase ‘snowball sampling’ is used inconsistently across disciplines []. It doesn’t have the probability involved, with say, simple random sampling (where the odds are the same for any particular participant being chosen). Comments? One problem with snowball sampling is that participants' social networks aren't random. Descriptive Statistics: Charts, Graphs and Plots. Thus, the study could exclude or under-represent CEOs from different industries. For example, psychologists may use snowball sampling to study members of marginalized groups, such as homeless people, closeted gay people, or people who belong to a support group, such as Alcoholics Anonymous. 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. An advantage is that it allows you to recruit deviant groups such as drug users more easily. Snowball sampling doesn’t require a research team to hire recruiters for the study since the initial subjects act as the recruiters who bring in additional subjects. Linear Snowball Sampling: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. It allows for studies to take place where otherwise it might be impossible to conduct because of a lack of participants. Nick Robinson is a writer, instructor and graduate student. For example, it would be easier to cold-call participants in a study for families who regularly dine at fast-food restaurants than it would be to cold-call people who are having extra-marital affairs. Snowball sampling may help you discover characteristics about a population that you weren’t aware existed. Snowball sampling is low-cost and easy to implement. As the sample builds up, enough data are gathered to be useful for research. Advantages of Snowball Sampling The chain referral process allows the researcher to reach populations that are difficult to sample when using other sampling methods. However, other study participants would likely know other people in the same situation as themselves and could inform others about the benefits of the study and reassure them of confidentiality. However, some sexual assault survivors attend support groups and a researcher in contact with one survivor might be able to use that participant's social network to contact more survivors. Online Tables (z-table, chi-square, t-dist etc.). When individuals are named, it’s sometimes called “cold-calling”, as you are calling out of the blue. Some study participants may object to using their social networks in this way, and some potential participants may dislike being contacted for participation. Classroom is the educational resource for people of all ages. © 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. Advantages: It allows for studies to take place where otherwise it might be impossible to conduct because of a lack of participants. Multi stage sampling. Pearson FT Press. Snowball sampling can be a tricky ethical path to navigate. The process is cheap, simple and cost-efficient. Advantages of Snowball Sampling The chain referral process allows the researcher to reach populations that are difficult to sample when using other sampling methods. Levine, D. (2014). In this blog you will read about the types and method of snowball sampling along with its advantages and disadvantages. Snowball sampling is defined as a non-probability sampling technique in which the samples have traits that are rare to find. Similarly, a sexual assault survivor's social network might be limited to a single geographic area, making it impossible for the researcher to generalize study results to the entire nation.
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