Snowball sampling from graphs

Abstract

We develop unbiased strategies to probabilistic T-wave snowball sampling from graphs, where the interest of estimation may concern finite-order subgraphs such as triangles, cycles or stars. Our approaches encompass also the finite-population sampling strategies to multiplicity sampling and adaptive cluster sampling, both of which can be recast as snowball sampling aimed at graph node totals. A general snowball sampling theory offers greater flexibility in terms of scope and efficiency of graph sampling, in addition to the existing random node or edge sampling methods.

arXiv commentOne sentence on page 17 (highlighted) of previous version was supposed to have been replaced, as in this version