Sampling Knowledge: The Hermeneutics of Snowball Sampling in Qualitative Research

Sampling Knowledge: The Hermeneutics of Snowball Sampling in Qualitative Research

October 2008 | Chaim Noy
This article explores the hermeneutics of snowball sampling in qualitative research, emphasizing its role in generating unique, interactional, and political social knowledge. It argues that snowball sampling, often viewed as a technical stage, is central to qualitative research and should be analyzed through constructivist and feminist perspectives. The article discusses two studies: one on backpacker tourists and another on marginalized male drivers in Jerusalem. In both, snowball sampling was used to access social networks and dynamics, revealing interrelations between sampling and interviewing. The study highlights how snowball sampling is embedded in social networks, influencing the production of social knowledge. It also examines the dynamics of power, social capital, and the role of social networks in shaping research outcomes. The article critiques traditional views of knowledge as static and static, advocating for a dynamic, interactional understanding of knowledge. It emphasizes the importance of considering the researcher's role and the social context in which research is conducted. The article concludes that snowball sampling is not merely a method but a process that contributes to the generation of rich, contextualized knowledge. It calls for a more integrated approach to research that acknowledges the interplay between different research facets. The article also discusses the implications of snowball sampling for understanding social structures and the role of social networks in shaping research outcomes. It highlights the importance of reflexivity in research and the need to recognize the social and cultural contexts in which research is conducted. The article concludes by emphasizing the value of snowball sampling in generating dynamic, interactional knowledge and the need for a more holistic approach to qualitative research.This article explores the hermeneutics of snowball sampling in qualitative research, emphasizing its role in generating unique, interactional, and political social knowledge. It argues that snowball sampling, often viewed as a technical stage, is central to qualitative research and should be analyzed through constructivist and feminist perspectives. The article discusses two studies: one on backpacker tourists and another on marginalized male drivers in Jerusalem. In both, snowball sampling was used to access social networks and dynamics, revealing interrelations between sampling and interviewing. The study highlights how snowball sampling is embedded in social networks, influencing the production of social knowledge. It also examines the dynamics of power, social capital, and the role of social networks in shaping research outcomes. The article critiques traditional views of knowledge as static and static, advocating for a dynamic, interactional understanding of knowledge. It emphasizes the importance of considering the researcher's role and the social context in which research is conducted. The article concludes that snowball sampling is not merely a method but a process that contributes to the generation of rich, contextualized knowledge. It calls for a more integrated approach to research that acknowledges the interplay between different research facets. The article also discusses the implications of snowball sampling for understanding social structures and the role of social networks in shaping research outcomes. It highlights the importance of reflexivity in research and the need to recognize the social and cultural contexts in which research is conducted. The article concludes by emphasizing the value of snowball sampling in generating dynamic, interactional knowledge and the need for a more holistic approach to qualitative research.
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