Snowball Sampling
Snowball recruitment consists of the researcher obtaining names and contact information from one participant for another one. For research involving sensitive topics, this may not be the best method. Using such a method could result in the researcher obtaining information about an individual that is sensitive and private without their permission. An alternate method might be asking other subjects to pass along flyers, emails, information sheets, etc. that contain contact information for the researcher to prevent a breach in confidentiality or an invasion of privacy.
If using snowball sampling, you must indicate how you will ensure that a subject’s privacy is protected during your recruitment. The steps taken to minimize the risk of violating an individual’s privacy should be articulated in the recruitment section of the protocol.
Participants cannot receive incentives or compensation for referrals. If this is relevant to your project, you must provide the REC with an advertisement script or flyer that can be distributed electronically to other people who might be interested or qualified to participate in the study. You must let potential participants know that they may be asked to provide names of other potential recruits along with the knowledge that they have a right to decline to provide this information.
If a participant consents, you must obtain the subject’s written permission to reveal their identity for subsequent contacts on the consent form via an initialed check list item. That is, if the subject agrees to provide names of other possible contacts, they could initial a check box on the consent form that they agree to allow their identity to be revealed to subsequent contacts. Not initialing the box would be interpreted as meaning the subject is unwilling to permit their name to be used when making the additional contacts, even if they supplied the names and contact information.