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. 2019 Feb;96(1):55-62.
doi: 10.1007/s11524-018-0316-9.

"Starfish Sampling": a Novel, Hybrid Approach to Recruiting Hidden Populations

H Fisher Raymond  1   2 , Yea-Hung Chen  2   3 , Willi McFarland  4   5
Affiliations

"Starfish Sampling": a Novel, Hybrid Approach to Recruiting Hidden Populations

H Fisher Raymond et al. J Urban Health. 2019 Feb.

Abstract

We sought to leverage the strengths of time location sampling (TLS) and respondent-driven sampling (RDS) for surveys of hidden populations by combing elements of both methods in a new approach we call "starfish sampling." Starfish sampling entails random selection of venue-day-time units from a mapping of the locations where the population can be found, combined with short chains of peer referrals from their social networks at the venue or presenting to the study site later. Using the population of transmen in San Francisco as a case example, we recruited 122 eligible participants using starfish sampling: 79 at randomly selected venues, 11 on dating applications, and 32 by referral. Starfish sampling produced one of the largest community-recruited samples specifically for transmen to date. Starfish sampling is a flexibility method to recruit and sample hidden populations for whom conventional TLS and RDS may not work in theory or practice.

Keywords: Hidden populations; Respondent-driven sampling; Sampling methods; Time-location sampling.

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Conflict of interest statement

The study protocol was reviewed and approved by the Internal Review Board of the University of California San Francisco. Participants provided written informed consent.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Long-chain recruitment pattern of respondent-driven sampling (actual study example for illustrative purposes)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
“Starfish” patterns of short chains of peer referrals (actual study sample for illustrative purposes)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Recruitment patterns in the present survey of transmen using a hybrid venue- and peer referral-based sampling method ("starfish sampling"), San Francisco, 2015 (N = 122). Symbols: Boxes = venues, diamonds = recruitment events, ovals = participants
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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