User:Waqas Amin/sandbox

Advantages

1. Locate hidden populations : It is possible for the surveyors to include people in the survey that they would not have known but, through the use of social network.

2. Locating people of a specific population: There are no lists or other obvious sources for locating members of the population (e.g. the homeless, users of illegal drugs). The investigators uses previous contact and communication with subjects then, the investigators are able to gain access and cooperation from new subjects.The key in gaining access and documenting the cooperation of subjects is trust. This is achieved that investigators act in good faith and establish good working relationship with the subjects.

3. Methodology: As subjects are used to locate the hidden population, the researcher invest less money and time in sampling. Snowball sampling method does not require complex planning and the staffing required is considerably smaller in comparison to other sampling methods.

Snowball Sampling can use in both alternative or complementary research methodology. As an alternative methodology, when other research methods can not be employed.

due to challenging circumstancing and when random sampling is not possible. As complementary methodology with other research methods to boost the quality and efficiency of research conduct and minimize the sampling bias like quota sampling.

Application field

1. Social computing

Snowball sampling can be perceived as an evaluation sampling in the social computing field. For example, in the interview phase, snowball sampling can be used to reach hard-to-reach populations. Participants or informants with whom contact has already been made can use their social networks to refer the researcher to other people who could potentially participate in or contribute to the study.

2.Conflict environment

It has been observed that conducting research in conflict environment is challenging due to mistrust and suspicion. A conflict environment, where people or groups thinks their needs and goal are contradictory to the goals and or needs of other people or group. These conflicts among groups or people includes the differences to claim the area of territory, resources, trade, civil and religious rights that cause considerable misunderstanding and heighten the disagreements that leads to an environment with lack of trust and suspicion. In conflict environment the entire population is marginalized to some extent rather than specific group of people and make it very hard for investigators to reach the study subjects to conduct the research. For example, a threatening political environment under authoritarian regime creates obstacles for the investigators to conduct the research. Snowball sampling has demonstrated as a second best method in conducting research in conflict environments like, The value of snoballsampling mathdology in the context of the Isearl and Arb Confict . Snowball sampling allows the investigators to approach the marginalized population at cognitive and emotional level and enroll them in study. Snowball sampling address the condiona of lack of trust that arrises due to uncertainity about the future through trace-linking methodology.

3. Expert information collection

Snowball sampling can be used to identify experts in a certain field such as medicine, manufacturing processes, or customer relation methods, and gather professional and valuable knowledge.

For instance, 3M called in specialists from all fields that related to how a surgical drape could be applied to the body using snowball sampling. Every involved expert can suggest another expert who they may know could offer more information.