Exploring the Effectiveness of Chain Referral Methods in Sampling Hidden Populations

Abstract

Respondent driven sampling as a chain referral approach has been utilized for finding a sample of people from a hidden or a hard to reach population by following social links from sample individuals to detect additional members of the target population to form final sample. This sampling method has been applied successfully in several countries for sampling in networks such as injecting drug users, female sex workers, men who have sex with men and immigrants. The aim of this article is to explore the problems involved in conducting research with hidden populations and to suggest two chain referral strategies to recruit sample participants. Finally, the merit of respondent driven sampling comparing to the most applicable chain referral sampling method, snowball sampling, is discussed.Keywords: Chain Referral Sampling, Conventional Sampling, Hard to Reach Population, Respondent Driven Sampling, Snowball Sampling