Scribd
Upload
35 views

Sampling and Selection in Qualitative Research

This document discusses sampling and selection in qualitative research. It covers several key points: 1. Sampling and selection involve choosing relevant data sources to generate data to answer research questions. This is done for practical and resource reasons as well as a focus on important questions. 2. There are different types of sampling strategies - strategic sampling builds well-founded arguments, representative sampling uses statistics, and illustrative sampling provides flavor. 3. Researchers must decide what to sample (people, texts, events etc.), when and where, and how many based on addressing their research questions and reaching data saturation without being too large. 4. Ensuring sampling is strategic involves systematic decision making, getting feedback, and keeping records

Uploaded by

rimi Edu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
35 views

Sampling and Selection in Qualitative Research

This document discusses sampling and selection in qualitative research. It covers several key points: 1. Sampling and selection involve choosing relevant data sources to generate data to answer research questions. This is done for practical and resource reasons as well as a focus on important questions. 2. There are different types of sampling strategies - strategic sampling builds well-founded arguments, representative sampling uses statistics, and illustrative sampling provides flavor. 3. Researchers must decide what to sample (people, texts, events etc.), when and where, and how many based on addressing their research questions and reaching data saturation without being too large. 4. Ensuring sampling is strategic involves systematic decision making, getting feedback, and keeping records

Uploaded by

rimi Edu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 26

Sampling and Selection in

Qualitative Research
Chapter 7
Group 7
• Ashraful Islam Fahim - 2616
• Ashif Ahmed Rudro - 2590
• Fabiha Mahbub - 2570
• Sadika Islam - 2583
• Shanjida Akter - 2580
• Sumaiya Parvin - 2581
Introduction
• Sample: A small part or quantity intended to
show what the whole is like.

• Sampling & selection: sampling and selection


are principles and procedures used to identify,
choose, and gain access to relevant data
sources from which one will generate data using
chosen methods. 
The logic of qualitative sampling and
selection
There are two reasons for which qualitative research
involves some form of sampling and selection:
1. practical and resource based issues 
2. Focus on important question 
The purpose of sampling in qualitative
enquiry
• What work do I want my sample to do?

• What is the wider universe or population from which


I wish to sample?
• What is the nature of my interest in this universe or
population?
Strategic Sampling
• Strategic sampling is quite depart from conversational
sampling logic that's why qualitative researchers
grapple with it.
• 3 broad ways of sampling strategy that can help to
develop theoretically and empirically grounded
arguments which says something different about the
relationship of sample and wider universe.
Those are
– 1. Sampling strategically
– 2.Sampling representationally
– 3. Sampling illustratively or Evocatively.
Strategic Sampling
Sampling Strategically
• Relationship between sample and wider universe
must have a relevant range of context or
phenomena which will help to build a well
Founded argument.

• Researcher must be clear about exactly what kind


of relationship he is establishing.

• Test assumption in a meaningful range.

• Combine a range of data with empirical and


theoretical logic.
Sampling Representationally
• sample are drawn from a representative microcosm of the
population which researcher wishes to study.

• statistical Convention are used to calculate the probability that


observed in the sample will exist in the wider population

• Often this hold very large sample which is very time consuming
and costly.

• This type of sampling may therefore necessarily be rather


superficial

• known characteristics of an empirical population do nor


represent meaningful, coherent or consistent categorization
because they are too flat, static, one dimensional or simplistic.
Sampling Illustratively or Evocatively
• Qualitative researcher are interested in an
illustrative and evocative sampling. This
approach of sampling seeks only to provide a
flavour to the research.

• The researcher decided what is the best


illustration of what. This depends on
researchers ontological and epistemological
perspective.
What should I sample?
Range of difficult questions posed by the author which are illustrative rather than
exhaustive in nature:
• What is it about the data source that you are interested in? (what represents
ontological, epistemological and intellectual puzzle?)
• What is the sampling logic? (strategic, representational and illustrative)
• How can you tell them apart? (construction of classification based on-
– Conventional/common-sense/real life (e.g. age, gender)
– Follow other researchers
– Make your own (reject the real life ones)
• How far these can be conceptualized as variables for analytical purpose?
(analytical logic)
• Not only what is the best data source to sample but who or which?
(interpretative logic)
• Evaluating validity, reliability and relevance of the sample with the research topic
Deciding What to Sample
Choosing what should be the sample from potential data
sources (mentioned in chapter 3)
 People (as individuals, groups or collectives)
• Ask what it is about people that you are interested in (who or
which you want to sample?)
 Organizations, institutions and entities
– Identifying key figures who might
• Represent
• Be illustrative
• Have access to appropriate contextual and situated
knowledge
Continued.. ..
 Texts (published and unpublished sources including virtual
ones)
– What are you interested in ?
• Content of the texts or people/bodies that produce it
• Whole texts or sampling categories based on themes and issues
• Establishing the authenticity of the text
• Want people to produce texts (e.g. diaries, pictures, photos) for the
research
• Texts produced by different types of people or different types of texts
 Settings and environments (material, visual/sensory and
virtual)
– How can setting help data to help reflect on research question?
(determining the boundaries and dimensions)
– Beware of dangers of slipping into a representational logic
Continued.. ..
 Objects, artifacts, media products (material, visual/sensory and virtual)
– Whether interested in the
• objects themselves, or
• their production, use meaning, or
• the system used to classify them or
• Judge their quality
– How to access full range of dimensions that are relevant to the study
 Events and happenings (material, visual/sensory and virtual)
─ May be equated to settings
─ May be studied before, after or contemporaneously (decide on
where it begins and ends, in what time and space)
─ What constitutes the event- where does it begin and end in time and
space?
Deciding When and Where to
Sample.
• Think about the different dimensions(Time
and Space) along which the sampling
categories might be organized and if they
intersect.
• Think about, and specify the temporal
parameters.
• Think about what the dimensions mean and
stand for.
• Think about how the dimensions intersect.
Deciding How Many to Sample
• How many is enough ?
• Whether or not the sample is big enough to
be statistically representative of a total
population is not the major concern for a
theoretical or purposive sampling strategy.

• Grounded Theory ?
Cont.. ..
• Jenifer Mason says “There is no inherent
reason why a qualitative sample should be
small”.
• Key question: Does your sample provide
access to enough data and enables you to
address your research question?
• Sample should be large enough to make
meaningful comparisons in relation to
research questions, but not so large as to
make detailed focus impossible.
• The key issue for qualitative sampling is how
to focus, strategically and meaningfully,
rather than how to represent.
Continued.. ..
• Categories used to make comparison might
not reflect the exact categories used for
sampling.
• Reminder:
– “Qualitative methods are usually used
when the object of study is some form of
social process or meaning or experience
which needs to be understood and
explained in a rounded way rather than
understanding causal patterns”
• Bertaux and Bertaux-Wiame (1981) claim
that the size of sample is dictated by the
social process under scrutiny.
Continued.. ..
• Sample until data saturation is reached.
• Is it Ad hoc and unsystematic ?
• Use analytic induction: seek out negative
instances.
• Theoretical and purposive sampling are not
based on a notion of empirical
representativeness the issue of how one
substantiates the relationship between the
sample and the wider universe is not so well
rehearsed
Ensuring that Organic Sampling Practices are
Strategic
• Broadly intended to facilitate a process
– Generate and test theory
– Rather than testify
– Early decision about sampling
 Knowing not only when to start sampling but also
when to stop sampling
Continued.. ..
 Postpone some sampling decision
 Be systematic about:
• Research practice
• Mechanism
• Informed decision
 Set specific dates and points
 Use of:
– Quotas
– Targets
– grids
Continued.. ..
• Getting a second opinion
– Helps to take decision about half-formed ideas
• Keep record of the process
– Nature
– Size
– Shape
• List Table and Grid
– Specify the range and number of sampling
categories
• Cross Cut Ideas
Sampling Frames, Access and
Opportunity
• A Sampling frame is a resource from which we can
select our smaller sample.
• This will help us in filling quota targets if the
sampling frame contains some information about
the sampling categories which is relevant to those
quotas.
• For an example: names and addresses are taken from
an electoral register where a set of information of
residents for a particular city are registered.
Difficulties of Sampling frame
• Although Sampling frame are available but not
relevant enough
• Sampling frame are available and relevant but
defining characteristics not helpful for the actual
purpose
• Sampling frame are not available and need to
prepare by following a method like snowball
sampling.
Practical and Ethical Issues
• Practical Issues
 Sampling strategy should be based on practical
and feasible considerations if not then there
might produce an inappropriate result.
Must complete the quota target by self
evaluation whether it is realistic or not.
Can choose the appropriate ones from a large
collections to represent the actual scenario.
 Access is also very crucial even after selecting
the right category.
Continued.. ..
• Ethical Issues
 Ensure that the information in the sampling
must be authorized
 confirm the information which is collected
from the real interviewee.
Ensure that the collected information must
be maintained to the copy right regulation.
 Decisions about sampling can’t be divorced
from the wider ethics of research practice.
?
Questions
Questions ?

You might also like