What does snowball sampling commonly rely on to build study samples?

Snowball sampling is a non-probability sampling technique that often relies on networks of initial respondents to help recruit additional participants for a study. This approach is particularly useful in research areas where the population of interest is hard to reach or not easily identifiable, such as in studies involving marginalized or hidden communities.

When the researcher identifies a few participants who fit the criteria of the study, those individuals can then refer or "snowball" the researcher to other potential participants within their networks. This method allows for the collection of data from individuals who share similar characteristics or experiences related to the research topic, creating a more robust sample as the network grows.

The technique leverages social connections to facilitate access to subjects that may be difficult to sample through traditional methods. It is particularly helpful in exploratory research where the boundaries of the population aren’t well-defined and can help generate insights that might be missed in more structured sampling methods.