Qualitative researchers often begin with a convenience sample (also called a volunteer sample), in which they accept whatever participants happen to be available. Purposive sampling is when researchers choose participants based attributes they possess.
C. Research consumers should be skeptical about the external validity of the finding. D. Convenience sampling provides level III evidence. Nice work! You just studied 27 terms!
Purposive (or purposeful) sampling strategy involves deliberately choosing the cases or types of cases that will best contribute to the study. Typical case sampling involves the selection of participants who illustrate or highlight what is typical or average.
The aim in qualitative studies is to extract the greatest possible information from a small number of people, and a convenience sample may not provide the most information-rich sources. However, convenience sample may be an economical way to begin the sampling process. Participants do meet the conceptual needs and that is why they are included.
The aim in qualitative studies is to extract the greatest possible information from a small number of people, and a convenience sample may not provide the most information-rich sources. However, convenience sample may be an economical way to begin the sampling process.
Other types of purposive sampling include extreme (deviant) case sa mpling (selecting the most unusual or extreme cases); typical case sampling (selecting cases that illustrate what is typical); and criterion sampling (studying cases that meet a predetermined criterion of importance).
A guiding principle is data saturation, which involves sampling to the point at which no new information is obtained and redundancy is achieved.
Qualitative researchers avoid random samples because they are not the best method of selecting people who will make good informants.
The goal in a grounded theory study is to select informants who can best contribute to the evolving theory. Sampling, data collection, data analysis, and theory construction occur concurrently, and so study participants are selected serially and contingently (i.e., contingent on the emerging conceptualization).
The goal of participant observers' descriptive notes is thick description. Reflective notes document researchers' personal experiences, reflections, and progress in the field, and can serve different purposes. Theoretical notes document interpretive efforts to attach meaning to observations.
Many qualitative studies, however, evolve to a purposi ve (or purposeful) sampling strategy in which researchers deliberately choose the cases or types of cases that will best contribute to the study. Sampling by convenience is efficient, but is not a preferred approach, even in qualitative studies.