⊿ Point. {R} Glossary. ◢ Keyword: S. ◥ University. {q} PhD. {tr} Training. ⚫ UK. ↂ EndNote. ☢️ Volunteer. ☢️ Snowball. ☢️ Sample. ☢️ Representative. ☢️ Quota. ☢️ Purposive. ☢️ NRS. ☢️ Convenience. ☝️ Weerakkody. Snowball sampling. Nonprobability statistical sampling technique In sociology and statistics research, snowball sampling[1] (or chain sampling, chain-referral sampling, referral sampling,[2][3] qongqothwane sampling[4]) is a nonprobability sampling technique where existing study subjects recruit future subjects from among their acquaintances.
Thus the sample group is said to grow like a rolling snowball. As the sample builds up, enough data are gathered to be useful for research. This sampling technique is often used in hidden populations, such as drug users or sex workers, which are difficult for researchers to access. It was widely believed that it was impossible to make unbiased estimates from snowball samples, but a variation of snowball sampling called respondent-driven sampling[6][7][8] has been shown to allow researchers to make asymptotically unbiased estimates from snowball samples under certain conditions. Applicable situation [edit] Conflict environments Expert information collection.