Сравнение на методи

	Снежното топене, базирано на терен	Снежинково извадково изследване
Област	Методология на проучванията	Методология на проучванията
Семейство	Process / pipeline	Process / pipeline
Година на възникване	1961 (foundational); field variant developed through 1970s–1980s ethnographic and hidden population research	1961
Създател	Leo A. Goodman (snowball sampling); field adaptation through ethnographic and social network research traditions	Leo A. Goodman
Тип	Non-probability sampling technique	Non-probability sampling technique
Основополагащ източник	Goodman, L. A. (1961). Snowball sampling. Annals of Mathematical Statistics, 32(1), 148–170.	Goodman, L. A. (1961). Snowball sampling. Annals of Mathematical Statistics, 32(1), 148–170.
Други названия	in-person snowball sampling, fieldwork chain-referral sampling, field snowball sampling, face-to-face referral sampling	chain-referral sampling, network sampling, respondent-driven sampling, referral sampling
Свързани	3	3
Резюме	Field-based snowball sampling is a non-probability chain-referral technique in which an initial set of in-person contacts (seeds) recruit further participants from within their real-world social networks, expanding the sample iteratively through face-to-face interaction in naturalistic field settings. It is the default snowball approach in ethnographic and community fieldwork, and is particularly valuable when the target population is hidden, hard-to-reach, or lacks a sampling frame.	Snowball sampling is a non-probability recruitment technique in which initial participants (seeds) refer the researcher to others who meet the study criteria, and those referrals in turn refer further participants. The sample grows incrementally — like a rolling snowball — until the required size or theoretical saturation is reached. It is the method of choice when a target population has no accessible sampling frame, such as undocumented migrants, illicit drug users, survivors of stigmatised experiences, or members of closed professional networks.