2012/09/27 by Krista J. Gile, Gile, Krista J., Lisa G. Johnston +4
Mathematics · Medicine · #Applications (stat.AP) #FOS: Computer and information sciences #HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk #HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions #Methodology (stat.ME) #Opioid Use Disorder Treatment #stat.AP #stat.ME
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1209.6254
41 pages, 21 figures
arxiv created 2012/09/27 · openalex publication_date 2012/09/27 · arxiv updated 2012/09/28 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Respondent-driven sampling (RDS) is a widely used method for sampling from hard-to-reach human populations, especially groups most at-risk for HIV/AIDS. Data are collected through a peer-referral process in which current sample members harness existing social networks to recruit additional sample members. RDS has proven to be a practical method of data collection in many difficult settings and has been adopted by leading public health organizations around the world. Unfortunately, inference from RDS data requires many strong assumptions because the sampling design is not fully known and is partially beyond the control of the researcher. In this paper, we introduce diagnostic tools for most of the assumptions underlying RDS inference. We also apply these diagnostics in a case study of 12 populations at increased risk for HIV/AIDS. We developed these diagnostics to enable RDS researchers to better understand their data and to encourage future statistical research on RDS.