Snowball sampling in qualitative research: an open debate

Abstract

This article intends to discuss the sampling method named snowball, which is  not  probabilistic  and  uses  references  chains.  Despite its  disadvantages,  the  snowball sampling is powerful to study groups which are hard to be accessed or studied, and also when there is no precision on its quantity. Besides, this specific kind of sampling is also useful to study delicate topics, of private matter, and it therefore demands the knowledge of  people who belong to the group or are recognized by them for them to be located. Although there are some works about this sampling method in other countries, the articles production concerning this sampling application is nearly null in Brazil; this work intends to be useful on possible discussions on the theme.