Qualitative Methods Flashcards
Acquaintance (Snowball) Sample
A nonprobability sampling method in which ideally a randomly chosen sample serves as initial contacts, though in practice, ease of access virtually always determines the initial sample. These subjects provide the name of a fixed number of other individuals who fulfill research criteria. The researcher approaches these persons, asks them to participate, and each subject who agrees is then asked to provide a fixed number of additional names. The researcher continues this process for as many stages as desired (Heckathorn). This method is most useful in studies of hidden or hard to reach populations where no sampling frame exists and public acknowledgement of membership in the population is threatening. This method is also used to study social networks, and small, bounded populations (appropriate to field research).
Chain Referral Sampling
To ask people who possess specific characteristics one wishes to study to identify others known to them who share those characteristics for study. For example, asking participants of a study to refer other members of their group to participate. See definition for “acquaintance (snowball) sample”. Also called snowball sampling, acquaintance sampling. A nonprobability sampling method often used in field research. The basic concept behind the method is that respondents are not selected from a sampling frame, but instead from the network of existing members in the sample. The sampling process begins when researchers select small numbers of seeds who are the first people to participate in the study. These seeds then recruit others to participate. The process of existing sample members recruiting others continues until desired sample size is reached. Good for studies of hidden/hard to reach populations, small populations. E.g., injection drug users, commercial sex workers, illegal immigrants, draft resisters, etc.
