Accordingly, investigator himself purposively chooses certain items which to his judgment are best representatives of the universe. Pros and cons of different sampling techniques international. Snowball sampling can present significant ethical problems, especially if the research topic is sensitive or personal. Hence, being systematic it has certain methods and.
As the sample builds up, enough data are gathered to be useful for. It allows for studies to take place where otherwise it might be impossible to conduct because of a lack of participants. Representativeness of the sample is not guaranteed. Quota sampling method is a nonprobability sampling and it can be defined as a sampling method of gathering representative data from a group. Snowball sampling allows the investigators to approach the marginalized population at cognitive and emotional level and enroll them in study. The biggest advantage of snowball sampling is that it helps researchers find more participants for studies than would be possible by other. In this blog you will read about the types and method of snowball sampling along with its advantages and disadvantages. Snowball sampling is where research participants recruit other participants for a test. Purposeful sampling for qualitative data collection and. Learn the pros and cons of quota sampling in this article. Respondents may be hesitant to provide names of peers and. This is a major disadvantage as far as cluster sampling is concerned. Firstly, and most easily, as an informal method to reach a target population.
Apr 02, 2019 each type of sampling can be useful for situations when researchers must either target a sample quickly or for when proportionality is the primary concern. This method of sampling is also known as subjective or judgment sampling method. 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. While easier to implement than other methods, it can be costly and time consuming. Several years after colemans and goodmans development of snowball sampling, what was also termed snowball sampling emerged as a. 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. This method is used only when the population is very hardtoreach. Snowball sampling is one of the most popular methods of sampling in qualitative research, central to which are the characteristics of networking and referral. If the group in population that is chosen as a cluster sample has a biased opinion then the entire population is inferred to have the same opinion.
For example, if you are studying the level of customer satisfaction among elite nirvana bali golf club in. Purposeful sampling is widely used in qualitative research for the identification and selection of informationrich cases related to the phenomenon of interest. 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. 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. Although there are several different purposeful sampling strategies, criterion sampling appears. One problem with snowball sampling is that participants social networks arent random.
The advantages and disadvantages of random sampling show that it can be quite effective when it is performed correctly. Research is a scientific process of investigation and experimentation that involves the systematic collection, analysis and interpretation of data to answer a certain question or solve problem. This sampling technique needs little planning and fewer workforce compared to other sampling techniques 1. A manual for selecting sampling techniques in research 4 preface the manual for sampling techniques used in social sciences is an effort to describe various types of sampling methodologies that are used in researches of social sciences in an easy. For example, studies on mexican or other nationality migrants in a particular city in america can be done through snowball sampling. In some cases, sampling of members of a special population segment are require, but prove difficult to locate. Convenience sampling is the most easiest way to do that. Advantage and disadvantage of judgmental sampling, auditing. This sampling technique offers practical advantages such as having the social networks of identified participants that can provide an ever.
In such cases, snowball sampling is the best sampling method to choose. Researchers use the simple random sample methodology to choose a subset of individuals from a larger population. 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. 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.
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. Simple random sampling in this technique, each member of the population has an equal chance of being selected as subject. As a result, the technique can result in biased samples. January 26, 2017 the triangle admin leave a comment. This sampling technique needs little planning and fewer workforce compared to other sampling techniques. 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.
Advantages a it is a good representative of the population. Comparision of snowball sampling and sequential sampling. Using social media and targeted snowball sampling to. For example, if you are studying the level of customer satisfaction among. In sociology and statistics research, snowball sampling or chain sampling, chainreferral sampling, referral sampling is a nonprobability sampling technique where existing study subjects recruit future subjects from among their acquaintances. On the other hand probabilistic sampling methods like. The researcher has little control over the sampling method. Oversampling a particular network of peers can lead to bias. The purpose of sampling theory is to make sampling more efficient. Unlike convenience samples, research subjects are selected for specific attributes that preliminary research has defined as targets. In general, it is easier than other probabilistic sampling procedures such as conglomerate sampling to understand and communicate to others. As described in leo goodmans 2011 comment, snowball sampling was developed by coleman 19581959 and goodman 1961 as a means for studying the structure of social networks.
Assessing limitations and uses of convenience samples. Snowball sampling is a popular technique among social scientists who wish to work with a population that is difficult to identify or locate. For example, it has been shown to be capable of producing. The researcher has no idea of the true distribution of the population and of the sample.
Stratified random sampling provides the benefit of a more accurate sampling of a population, but can be disadvantageous when researchers cant classify every member of the population into a subgroup. Pdf comparision of snowball sampling and sequential. The subjects that the researcher can obtain rely mainly on the. Sampling from populations in which individuals are hard to identify can justify clever approaches, but the role of the simple random sampling model in. 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. 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.
It is a methodology where researcher recruits other individuals for the study. Sociology at surrey university of surrey research socialupdate. Cluster sampling definition, advantages and disadvantages. 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. Each type of sampling can be useful for situations when researchers must either target a sample quickly or for when proportionality is the primary concern. Snowball sampling may help you discover characteristics about a population that you werent aware existed. The subjects that the researcher can obtain rely mainly on the previous subjects that were observed. The auditor is given an opportunity to bring his j. The sampling method used for the survey was snowball sampling.
These actors may themselves open possibilities for an expanding web of contact. 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. Snowball sampling has been found to be economical, efficient and effective in various studies. This referral technique goes on and on, increasing the size of the respondent population like a snowball rolling down a hill until the researcher.
Snowball sampling can be applied for two primary purposes. This article explains a what snowball sampling is, b how to create a snowball sample, and c the advantages and disadvantages limitations of. 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. Application of quota sampling ensures that sample group represents certain characteristics of the population chosen by the researcher. Disadvantages of sampling may be discussed under the heads. Advantages and disadvantages limitations of snowball sampling advantages of snowball sampling snowball sampling is a useful choice of sampling strategy when the population you are interested in studying is hidden or hardtoreach. Nonprobability sampling methods do not use probabilities to select subjects randomly rather are based on other factors like need of the study, availability of subjects and rarity of subjects. Probability sampling uses lesser reliance over the human judgment. This often occurs when the population is somehow marginalized, like homeless or formerly incarcerated individuals or those who are involved in illegal activities. When we choose certain items out of the whole population to analyze the data and draw a conclusion thereon, it is called sampling.
Snowball sampling is defined as a nonprobability sampling technique in which the samples have traits that are rare to find. 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 pattern is continued until enough number of subjects are available for the sample. Ask new cases to identify further cases and so on stop when. A research on the habits, thoughts, views, and opinions of people can help us in the betterment of the society. According to showkat and parveen 2017, the snowball sampling method is a nonprobability sampling technique, which is also known as referral sampling, and as stated by alvi 2016, it is. Advantages and disadvantages limitations of snowball sampling. But the real difficulties lie in selection, estimation and administration of samples. Auditing assignment help, advantage and disadvantage of judgmental sampling, advantage and disadvantage of judgmental sampling the advantages of judgment sampling the approach is understood as well and has been refined through experience over many years. If you oversample from one particular network this may bias some of your data. Application of snowball sampling involves the following stages. Disadvantages of snowball sampling the researcher has little control 2 over the sampling method. Types of nonprobability random sampling quota sampling. For example, many sexual assault survivors are reluctant to talk about their experiences and avoid identifying themselves as survivors.
Jan 26, 2017 it is important however that such an approach is clearly documented and for depth it maybe useful to highlight in your research the original referrer. Probability sampling, advantages, disadvantages mathstopia. They are also usually the easiest designs to implement. The statistical procedures required to analyze the data and calculate errors are easier than those required in other probabilistic sampling procedures. The chain referral process allows the researcher to reach populations that are difficult to sample when using other sampling methods. Snowball sampling is a type of convenience sampling method that is usually applied when it is. Since cluster sampling selects only certain groups from the entire population, the method requires fewer resources for the sampling process. Quota sampling, accidental sampling, judgemental sampling or purposive sampling, expert sampling, snowball sampling, modal instant sampling. The cluster sampling method comes with a number of advantages over simple random sampling and stratified sampling. The article provides the description and comparison of two nonrandom samplings which are snowball or chain referral sampling and sequential sampling. Pdf snowball sampling is a wellknown, nonprobability method of.
Thus the sample group is said to grow like a rolling snowball. Snowball sampling is a wellknown, nonprobability method of survey sample selection that is commonly used to locate hidden populations. Establish a contact with one or two initial cases from the sampling frame. Disadvantages a it is a difficult and complex method of samplings. 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.
What are the merits and demerits of purposive sampling. There are also ethical issues, respondents may be hesitant to provide names, due. Snowball sampling social research update university of surrey. The entire process of sampling is done in a single step with each subject selected independently of the other members of the. What are the merits and demerits of purposive sampling method. Stratified sampling selfselection sampling cluster sampling snowball sampling probability sampling 1. If the aim of a study is primarily explorative, qualitative and descriptive, then snowball sampling offers practical advantages hendricks, blanken and adriaans, 1992. The researchers usually start with a small number of initial contacts seeds who fit the research criteria and are invited to become participants within the research. Snowball sampling may help you discover characteristics about a. Random sampling removes an unconscious bias while creating data that can be analyzed to benefit the general demographic or population group being studied. Mar 31, 2018 nonprobability sampling methods do not use probabilities to select subjects randomly rather are based on other factors like need of the study, availability of subjects and rarity of subjects. Snowball sampling isnt one of the common types of sampling methods but still valuable in certain cases. Snowball sampling has been widely used in qualitative sociological research, especially in the.
Check the advantages and disadvantages of convenience sampling. 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. 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. The disadvantages of this approach include firstly oversampling.
However, you should be fully aware of the pros and cons of convenience sampling before you conduct research. A manual for selecting sampling techniques in research. This shows an additional level of detail and highlights a certain amount of rigour in the sampling process. 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.