Qualitative research - sampling

Question 1

What is a sample?

Answer 1

• representative section of the wider population
• aim = to generalise from the sample
• needs to be large enough to say with some certainty results are accurate

Question 2

What is the aim of sampling in qualitative research?

Answer 2

• PPs actively pp in generation of the data
• aim of qual. research is to discover meaning - not to generalise
• so questions asked - decide on the sample

Question 3

What is the sample in qualitative research?

Answer 3

• deliberately biased = STRENGTH

- using quantitative approaches would be a weakness

Question 4

How are the sample selected?

Answer 4

• has person experienced phenomenon/culture?
• people who are knowledgeable, reflective and able to talk at length
• practicalities: cost, accessability, ethical issues

Question 5

What is the sample like in qualitative research?

Answer 5

-small
-30-40 in ethnography or GT
-

Question 6

When does the sample emerge in qualitative studies?

Answer 6

-as the study progressess

Question 7

What are the types of sampling in qualitative research?

Answer 7

convenience, snowball, purposive, homogeneous, theoretical

Question 8

What is convenience sampling?

Answer 8

• often begin with this
• easy and efficient but not ideal
• e.g. 20 personal students
• start this way but then need to sample more purposefully to get as much info as possible from few PPs

Question 9

What is snowball sampling?

Answer 9

• ask PPs for others with similar experiences e.g. friends of PPs
• lead to limited sample and ethical issues

Question 10

What is purposive (purposeful) sampling?

Answer 10

• most studies move on to this
• selecting people who will be most informative
• e.g. maximum variation sampling

Question 11

What is homeogeneous sampling?

Answer 11

• opposite of maximum variation sampling
• used if want to focus on a particular group and understand them well
• e.g. male STNs first placement

Question 12

What is theoretical sampling?

Answer 12

• used in grouded theory
• finds PPs who will help the researcher to build the theory
• e.g. socialisation of STNs into ward culture - select certain STNs who have had particular experiences and can offer insight

Question 13

How do qualitative researchers decide on sample size?

Answer 13

• principle called data saturation guides sample size
• sampling stops when enough data have been collected to describe/explain the issue + no new ideas are emerging
• size = not pre-determined

Question 14

Is it possible to generalise qualitative research?

Answer 14

• NO
• but many debates
• evidence based practice fuels debate
• many researchers argue that if a phenomenon/culture has been described in enough detail, cant be generalised but can be transferred to other settings