Participation level:

High (Stakeholders participate in decision)

Innovation level:

Low (Traditional)

Facilitator skill level, and other support required:

Medium (Computer & other expertise)

Can be used for:

Engage community
Discover community issues
Develop community capacity
Communicate an issue

Snowball sampling is designed to identify people with particular knowledge, skills or characteristics that are needed as part of a committee and/or consultative process. Snowball sampling uses recommendations to find people with the specific range of skills that has been determined as being useful, as such, snowball sampling aims to make use of community knowledge about those who have skills or information in particular areas.

Snowball sampling allows you to identify the resources within a community and to select those people best suited for the needs of a project or process.

Helps to determine stakeholders.
Increases the number of participants in process.
Builds on resources of existing networks.
Determines stakeholders unknown to you.

Choice of initial contacts is most important.
Participation process should be drafted prior to the sampling to encourage participation from potential contacts.

Organizing Snowball Sampling

How many people to organize?

Medium (2-12 people)

Time required:

Medium (6 weeks-6 months)
Short (< 6 weeks)

Cost:

Medium (AUD$1,000-AUD$10,000)
Low (< AUD$1,000)

Draft up a participation program (likely to be subject to change, but indicative).
Approach stakeholders and ask for contacts.
Gain contacts and ask them to participate.
Community issues groups may emerge that can be included in the participation program.
Continue the snowballing with contacts to gain more stakeholders if necessary.
Ensure a diversity of contacts by widening the profile of persons involved in the snowballing exercise.