Editing Snowball sampling (section)

====Public and population health research with marginalized and stigmatized populations====

Snowball sampling can be used to recruit participants in research in marginalized, criminalized or other stigmatized behaviour, and its consequences. Examples include the use of illegal substances (e.g., unprescribed drugs), collection of illegal materials (e.g., ivory, unlicensed weapons), or stigmatized practices (e.g., support for anorexia, sexual fetish). Exclusion from majority society or fear of exposure or of shaming makes it difficult to contact participants through usual means. However, the nature of many of these behaviours means that people engaging in them have contact with each other. Snowball sampling is used in many studies of street-involved populations.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Marshall|first1=Brandon DL|last2=Kerr|first2=Thomas|last3=Livingstone|first3=Chris|last4=Li|first4=Kathy|last5=Montaner|first5=Julio SG|last6=Wood|first6=Evan|date=2008|title=High prevalence of HIV infection among homeless and street-involved Aboriginal youth in a Canadian setting.|journal=Harm Reduction Journal|language=en|volume=5|issue=1|page=35|doi=10.1186/1477-7517-5-35|pmid=19019253|pmc=2607257|issn=1477-7517|doi-access=free}}</ref>