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Patrick Biernacki

Bio: Patrick Biernacki is an academic researcher from San Francisco State University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Addiction & Snowball sampling. The author has an hindex of 4, co-authored 4 publications receiving 4116 citations.

Papers
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In spite of the fact that chain referral sampling has been widely used in qualitative sociological research, especially in the study of deviant behavior, the problems and techniques involved in its use have not been discussed.
Abstract: In spite of the fact that chain referral sampling has been widely used in qualitative sociological research, especially in the study of deviant behavior, the problems and techniques involved in its...

4,416 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The paper reviews all the research studies that have looked at the phenomena of the “natural” recovery from heroin addiction — natural in the sense that some addicts manage to stop using heroin and not become re-addicted without the help of treatment intervention.
Abstract: This paper reviews the literature in an area which has received little attention of drug researchers — spontaneous remission. The paper reviews all the research studies that have looked at the phenomena of the “natural” recovery from heroin addiction — natural in the sense that some addicts manage to stop using heroin and not become re-addicted without the help of treatment intervention. Some areas for future research are also suggested.

88 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The study findings confirm the general relationship between addiction and crime, however, the data also shows that addicts often come to concentrate their hustling efforts in particular types of crime—that is, most addicts develop a main hustle.
Abstract: Although the general relationship between heroin addiction and criminal behavior is widely acknowledged, little is known about how addicts come to engage in particular types of crime. This paper pr...

21 citations


Cited by
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In spite of the fact that chain referral sampling has been widely used in qualitative sociological research, especially in the study of deviant behavior, the problems and techniques involved in its use have not been discussed.
Abstract: In spite of the fact that chain referral sampling has been widely used in qualitative sociological research, especially in the study of deviant behavior, the problems and techniques involved in its...

4,416 citations

Reference EntryDOI
15 Aug 2006
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present two different approaches to snowball sampling: the first is to ask a person to inform potential subjects about the research project and share the investigator's contact information, and then it is up to the potential subjects to contact the investigator.
Abstract: Snowball sampling is a recruitment method in which an investigator enlists the help of a research subject in identifying, and possibly recruiting, additional subjects. It is useful when the investigator may not have access to a population of potential subjects who meet inclusion criteria, which may often be stigmatizing. There are two different approaches to snowball recruitment. In the first method, the investigator asks a person to inform potential subjects about the research project and share the investigator's contact information. It is then up to the potential subjects to contact the investigator. The informed consent process should make it clear that agreeing to contact others is not a requisite for participating in the research. Also, the researcher should not offer a reward or a " bounty " for recruiting subjects. This method rarely presents ethical issues for the IRB. The second method is more common but problematic. The investigator asks the first recruited subject for contact information about potential subjects and then contacts them directly. The major ethical issue is that the first subject may be divulging information about other people that they would prefer to be kept confidential. And it is especially problematic when the referring individual is a person of authority in the community. The IRB would evaluate very carefully the context in which this approach to recruitment is occurring. The Boise State University IRB has a good discussion of snowball sampling. For additional discussion, see he discussion on the NSF site.

2,795 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In the 1966 paperback edition of a publication which first appeared in 1963 has by now been widely reviewed as a worthy contribution to the sociological study of deviant behavior as discussed by the authors, and the authors developed a sequential model of deviance relying on the concept of career, a concept originally developed in studies of occupations.
Abstract: This 1966 paperback edition of a publication which first appeared in 1963 has by now been widely reviewed as a worthy contribution to the sociological study of deviant behavior. Its current appearance as a paperback is a testimonial both to the quality of the work and to the prominence of deviant behavior in this generation. In general the author places deviance in perspective, identifies types of deviant behavior, considers the role of rule makers and enforcers, and some of the problems in studying deviance. In addition, he develops a sequential model of deviance relying on the concept of career, a concept originally developed in studies of occupations. In his study of a particular kind of deviance, the use of marihuana, the author posits and tests systematically an hypothesis about the genesis of marihuana use for pleasure. The hypothesis traces the sequence of changes in individual attitude

2,650 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A four-point approach to sampling in qualitative interview-based research is presented and critically discussed in this article, which integrates theory and process for the following: (1) defining a sample universe, by way of specifying inclusion and exclusion criteria for potential participation; (2) deciding upon a sample size, through the conjoint consideration of epistemological and practical concerns; (3) selecting a sampling strategy, such as random sampling, convenience sampling, stratified sampling, cell sampling, quota sampling or a single-case selection strategy; and (4) sample sourcing, which includes
Abstract: Sampling is central to the practice of qualitative methods, but compared with data collection and analysis its processes have been discussed relatively little. A four-point approach to sampling in qualitative interview-based research is presented and critically discussed in this article, which integrates theory and process for the following: (1) defining a sample universe, by way of specifying inclusion and exclusion criteria for potential participation; (2) deciding upon a sample size, through the conjoint consideration of epistemological and practical concerns; (3) selecting a sampling strategy, such as random sampling, convenience sampling, stratified sampling, cell sampling, quota sampling or a single-case selection strategy; and (4) sample sourcing, which includes matters of advertising, incentivising, avoidance of bias, and ethical concerns pertaining to informed consent. The extent to which these four concerns are met and made explicit in a qualitative study has implications for its coherence, tran...

2,286 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors attend to snowball sampling via constructivist and feminist hermeneutics, suggesting that when viewed critically, this popular sampling method can generate a unique type of social knowledge which is emergent, political and interactional.
Abstract: During the past two decades we have witnessed a rather impressive growth of theoretical innovations and conceptual revisions of epistemological and methodological approaches within constructivist‐qualitative quarters of the social sciences. Methodological discussions have commonly addressed a variety of methods for collecting and analyzing empirical material, yet the critical grounds upon which these were reformulated have rarely been extended to embrace sampling concepts and procedures. The latter have been overlooked, qualifying only as a ‘technical’ research stage. This article attends to snowball sampling via constructivist and feminist hermeneutics, suggesting that when viewed critically, this popular sampling method can generate a unique type of social knowledge—knowledge which is emergent, political and interactional. The article reflects upon researches about backpacker tourists and marginalized men, where snowball sampling was successfully employed in investigating these groups' organic social ne...

2,208 citations