Relevance & Research Question:
For the specific type of hidden or rare populations several sampling methods like time, space or targeted sampling exist. A relatively new method is Respondent Driven Sampling (RDS). In RDS participants recruit their peers. The advantages of RDS are, that the sample composition reaches an equilibrium within a limited number of recruitment waves, which means that all social ties within the target population have an equal probability of being recruited. Additionally, RDS provides information for analyzing the social structure of the population. It also helps to reduce effects of volunteerism and the masking effect.
In order for RDS to work, the target population needs to form a single connected network with a fairly high frequency of interaction. There has to be at least five links on average from one node to another to ensure long referral chains.
My research question is whether RDS is an appropriate method to sample social networks in an online research environment among former colleagues of German companies that relocated or off-shored their workforce. The key questions are, how connected the individuals are both within and across companies, how and how often the communicate and which effects influence the recruitment process.
Methods & Data:
I am doing a pilot study among former colleagues of a small and two medium-sized companies in Germany, to test the applicability of RDS as an online research method on rare populations. Sample questions of the questionnaire include the access and use of e-mail and social internet communities and the individual network size.
Results:
Work is still in progress and first results of the pilot study will be available by the begin of the year 2010.
Added Value:
The poster will introduce the RDS methodology to the online research community as an effective and efficient form to sample rare populations. The pilot study tests the feasibility of RDS for a special target population and gives advices for the implementation of an online RDS-study. The results of these pilot study will be the basis for an online research project about hidden costs of company relocations.