Module Components

• Learning Activities

Topics

• Sampling Overview
• Sampling for Quantitative
• Sampling for Qualitative
• Measurement
• Levels of Measurement
• Reliability and Validity of Measures
• Estimating Reliability and Validity
• Modue 3 Self-Review

NRSG 790 - Methods for Research and Evidence-Based Practice

Module 3: Research Methods

Sampling For Qualitative Research

Overview

Sampling is the process of selecting a portion of a population about which information is collected. Researchers sample from the population that is accessible and meets predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria to participate in the study, and generalize to a target population.

Bias

According to Polit and Beck (2012), the aim of Qualitative research is to discover meaning and multiple realities. The highly contextual nature of qualitative study favors the concept of transferability of findings over generalizability. Transferability considers a gradient of similarity for people, settings, and time between the study informants and the context for the user of the study findings.

Techniques

The following features characterize most sampling techniques used in Qualitative Research:

• Random sampling/selection is not employed – good informants are reflective and willing to talk at length.
• Samples are small and studied intensively.
• Samples emerge as opposed to being predetermined.
• Sample selection is guided by the phenomena, not representation.
• Convenience, Snowball, and Purposive are primary sampling techniques utilized by qualitative researchers.