Snowball Sampling
Snowball sampling is a strategy that heavily relies on social networks when gathering information. It involves identifying the subject of data collection, including an initial number of group members. These members further assist in finding and enlisting new group members, and the process is repeated until the desired number of participants is obtained (Snowball Sampling, n.d).
Example
A good example is when a researcher goes to a refugee camp and strikes up a conversation with one person. They then explain the purpose of that study, and if the person agrees to participate, they introduce the researcher to other refugees that they know. This sampling method is widely employed when studying migrants due to its ability to leverage social networks, its convenience, and the certainty that it is both time and resource-efficient.
Limitations
One limitation of this method is that it is non-probability-based. This means that each unit in a target population lacks an equal chance of representation. The participants often know each other and share similar traits, which may contribute to sampling bias. Moreover, their responses are more alike due to the use of referrals.
Application
However, snowballing sampling addresses major challenges in conducting research amongst a migrant population like the Rohingya community. These refugees consist of groups that are socially marginalized and may be hesitant to participate in any kind of research. This may occur due to the fear of exposing their identities, especially to researchers in general (Bacher et al., 2019).
With the necessary ethical considerations in place, a snowballing strategy can ensure confidentiality and privacy protection, which helps encourage participation amongst such populations. The availability of resources is another challenge in conducting research, but with snowballing, few resources are required, which is a great advantage for researchers.
Venue-Based Sampling
Venue-based sampling is a strategy used to collect data for populations that are hard to reach, such as migrants. This method is probability-based and involves the random selection of samples from a target population. It is used for studies involving people congregating in particular places and at specific times (Venue-based Sampling, n.d).
Application
In this case, most Rohingya refugees reside in refugee camps at Cox’s Bazaar, and such venues are easily identifiable by researchers rather than when they are scattered all over Bangladesh. Therefore, the refugees are likely to gather in social places around the camps, such as street locations, commercial areas, restaurants, markets, and designated places of worship.
The government of Bangladesh has already begun the necessary plans to relocate the migrants to Bhasan Char Island. These movements mean that the migrants may congregate at different venues over time, which is a limitation when conducting research using venue-based sampling. This method can also be very costly and requires a lot of resources due to the entire sampling process. For instance, researchers need to visit the identified gathering places several times before determining the eligibility of the participants.
Advantages
Being a probability-based method, venue-based sampling is likely to overcome a challenge like collecting biased data. This is achieved through a proper definition of the target population, thus ensuring that all eligible members have equal odds of participation (Kutateladze, 2022). Another challenge addressed through this sampling method is the influence of stigma. As a research team collects information from participants in selected venues, they can also educate them by sharing facts and responding to negative comments directed at vulnerable groups. This action will encourage them to be more open about their experiences and promote honesty in their responses.
References
Bacher, J., Lemcke, J., Quatember, A., & Schmich, P. (2019). Probability and nonprobability sampling: Representative surveys of hard-to-reach and hard-to-ask populations. Current surveys between the poles of theory and practice. Survey Methods: Insights from the Field.
Kutateladze, B. L. (2022). Acting “straight”: Socio-behavioral consequences of anti-queer hate crime victimization. Justice Quarterly, 39(5), 1036-1058.
Snowball Sampling [PowerPoint Slides].
Venue-based Sampling [PowerPoint Slides].