Which sampling method is a biased technique where participants are asked to recommend acquaintances for the study?

• A. Snowball Sampling
• B. Purposive Sampling
• C. Quota Sampling
• D. Cluster Samples

Answer: (A)

Snowball sampling is a biased technique where participants recruit acquaintances for the study. Because recruitment starts from a small initial group and spreads through social networks, the sample tends to reflect those networks rather than the broader population. This creates overrepresentation of people who are well-connected or share similar traits, and underrepresentation of those on the periphery, leading to limited diversity and reduced generalizability. It’s often used for hard-to-reach or hidden groups, but the referral process introduces selection bias. Other methods don’t rely on social referrals: purposive sampling selects participants to fit specific purposes or characteristics, quota sampling imposes predefined subgroup proportions, and cluster sampling uses random selection of groups with sampling within those groups.