Psychology
The Role of Gatekeepers in Snowball Sampling of Hidden Populations
Quick fact
In a classic snowball sampling study, a single gatekeeper could intentionally or unintentionally exclude entire subgroups, meaning the sample may not represent the hidden population at all—even if you recruit hundreds of participants.
Why this is interesting
Imagine trying to study a community that is invisible to outsiders—how would you ever find participants? The answer often lies in the hands of a few influential insiders, but their power can quietly distort your entire study.