Randomized Recruitment Driven Sampling

Abstract: Surveys are critical inputs for research and policy, yet, enumerating a sampling frame is logistically infeasible or financially nonviable in many circumstances, such as during pandemics, natural disasters, or armed conflict. Respondent Driven Sampling (RDS) does not require a sampling frame, yet non-random peer recruitment often introduces substantial bias, particularly under high homophily. We introduce and evaluate Randomized Recruitment Driven Sampling (RRDS), a cellphone-based adaptation of RDS that incorporates researcher-controlled randomization into each recruitment wave. While standard RDS is necessary for stigmatized groups where network transparency is infeasible, RRDS is designed for low-stigma populations that become difficult to access due to logistical barriers. In these contexts, RRDS enforces the random recruitment assumption that traditional RDS relies upon but rarely achieves. Through simulation and an experiment surveying Bangladeshi garment workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, we demonstrate that RRDS produces less biased estimates and improved confidence interval coverage compared to traditional RDS. RRDS offers a scalable, remote-compatible alternative for studying low-stigma groups in challenging contexts where large-scale probability sampling is unsafe or infeasible.