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What is Respondent Driven Sampling ?

Respondent-driven sampling (RDS), combines "snowball sampling" with a mathematical model that weights the sample to compensate for the fact that the sample was collected in a non-random way. More.


Data Requirements for RDS Analysis

While data requirements for RDS analysis are minimal, there are three fields which are essential for analysis (NOTE: RDS analysis CAN NOT BE PREFORMED without these fields for each respondent):

References

NEW! RDS Publication Archive
Respondent-Driven Sampling References
Peer-Driven Intervention References

Core RDS References:

Downloads

In order to help the community take advantage of the Respondent Driven Sampling methodology, we have developed a software package capable of analysing RDS data sets. The Respondent Driven Sampling Analysis Tool (RDSAT) includes the following features:
Updates

Documentation for RDSAT:
About RDSAT
RDSAT Download Options:
RDSAT v.5.4 is now available for Linux, Mac, and Windows operating systems. There are several download options, depending on your operating system, and system configuration. RDSAT was developed in JAVA, and can be run on any machine which has a JAVA Runtime Environment installed on it. For users who have a recent JAVA Runtime Environment (v.1.4 or greater), you may download option #1 below. If you do not have the JAVA Runtime Environment, you have two options: Get the latest JAVA RE from http://java.com/en/download/manual.jsp, and then download option #1 below. Or, you may download option #2 below, which includes a JAVA runtime; note that option#2 is a much larger file. As a final option, if you do not want an installation program, you may download the executable JAR file listed as option#3.

Special Instructions for Vista Users:
To install RDSAT in a Vista system, please try to the following. During the setup process, when you get to the Select Destination Directory screen, do not choose the default, which is something like, C:\Program Files\rdsatdw\

Instead, choose an alternative, such as C:\rdsatdw\ (i.e., delete the text, "\Program Files").

This change in the installation procedure is necessary when using Vista, because users do not have read/write access to files in the Program Files folder, so the program would not be able to create and delete files in the manner necessary for the program to function.
Linux/Unix
Option#1
RDSAT_unix_5_6.sh 1.2 MB
Option#2
RDSAT_linux_5_6.rpm
1.2 MB

Windows
Option#1
RDSAT_windows_5_6_noJRE.exe
1.7MB
Option#2
RDSAT_windows_5_6.exe (includes JVM)
15MB
Mac
Option#1
RDSAT_macos_5_6.dmg 1.0MB

NEW!

RDSAT 6.0 Beta integrates new analytical methods presented in Heckathorn (2007) and is now available for advanced users.

Reporting Bugs:

If you encounter a bug while using RDSAT, there is a simple way to report it. You will find a 'error.log' file in your installation directory. Simply email deganii@gmail.com with a description of the bug, and attach the error.log file.

RDS Coupon Manager:

The Respondent Driven Sampling Coupon Manager (RDSCM) provides a convenient way to keep track of coupons numbers and respondent compensation.
Download RDSCM:

Contact:

Douglas Heckathorn is the originator of Respondent Driven Sampling. He can be reached at:

Department of Sociology
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14850

Email: douglas.heckathorn@cornell.edu


Fax: 607.255.8473
Voice: 607.255.4368
Internet: http://www.soc.cornell.edu/faculty/heckathorn.shtml

Direct questions, issues and bug reports regarding the software to:

Ismail Deganii
Email: deganii@gmail.com


Document last updated: 04/21/06