The terms "snowball effect" and "snowballing" are derived from this process. During the hostage negotiations, a series of snowballing scandals involving the ministry come to light. Patil did summit, and that's when it started snowballing. Pearl growing may also be referred to as citation mining or snowballing. Interviewees are often identified through sophisticated and sometimes, elitist, snowballing techniques. In 1981, "snowballing" was introduced.