title: A comparison of network sampling designs for a hidden population of drug users: Random walk vs. respondent-driven sampling.
abstract: Both random walk and respondent-driven sampling (RDS) exploit social networks and may reduce biases introduced by earlier methods for sampling from hidden populations. Although RDS has become much more widely used by social researchers than random walk (RW), there has been little discussion of the tradeoffs in choosing RDS over RW. This paper compares experiences of implementing RW and RDS to recruit drug users to a network-based study in Houston, Texas. Both recruitment methods were implemented over comparable periods of time, with the same population, by the same research staff. RDS methods recruited more participants with less strain on staff. However, participants recruited through RW were more forthcoming than RDS participants in helping to recruit members of their social networks. Findings indicate that, dependent upon study goals, researchers' choice of design may influence participant recruitment, participant commitment, and impact on staff, factors that may in turn affect overall study success.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, 425 University Blvd, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA. Electronic address: dcbell@iupui.edu.
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.affiliation: Sociology and Anthropology, Stockton University, School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, 101 Vera King Farris Drive, Galloway, NJ 08205, USA. Electronic address: erbaughe@stockton.edu.
authors.forename: Elizabeth B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Erbaugh
authors.affiliation: Shell Oil Company, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Tabitha
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Serrano
authors.affiliation: University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, USA.
authors.forename: Cheryl A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Dayton-Shotts
authors.forename: Isaac D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Montoya
keywords: Hidden populations; Network sampling; Random walk; Respondent-driven sampling; Social networks