Revisiting the Outsiders: Innovative Recruitment of a Marijuana User Network via Web-Based Respondent Driven Sampling

Abstract

This study uses an innovative, network-based recruitment strategy (non-monetary, web-based respondent driven sampling) to gather a sample of il/legal marijuana users. Network-driven effects amongst marijuana users are examined to test the explanatory validity of several theories of social deviance. The study finds that respondent driven sampling techniques lack effectiveness without primary monetary incentives, even when meaningful secondary incentives are utilized. Additionally, the study suggests that marijuana user networks exhibit strong homophilic attachment tendencies.