Methodological Obstacles and Innovations in Recruiting “Hidden Populations”: Using Social Media

• In Event: Exploratory Research into the Intersection of Forced Marriage, Intimate Partner Violence, and Sexual Violence

Abstract

Researchers at the Urban Institute, in collaboration with the Tahirih Justice Center, are conducting a National Institute of Justice-funded exploratory study to examine the intersection of forced marriage, intimate partner violence, and sexual violence among people living within the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The study involves interviewing individuals who have experienced or been threatened with forced marriage, as well as individuals who know someone in these situations. The methodology has evolved considerably over time in response to various challenges faced in recruiting people to participate in the study. Although the study initially relied on respondent-driven sampling (RDS) for interview recruitment, this strategy has been expanded to include other forms of recruitment, including advertising the study on social media platforms. Historically, few social science studies have engaged in participant outreach through online advertising. Thus, the lessons learned from social media advertising in this study have broader implications for participant recruitment in the age of social media.

Author

• Sarah Eppler-Epstein, Urban Institute