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Qualitative Research: Sampling & Sample Size Considerations

The goal of qualitative research is to provide in-depth understanding and therefore, targets a specific group, type of individual, event or process. 

There are three main types of qualitative sampling: purposeful sampling, quota sampling, and snowballing sampling.

          Purposeful Sampling is the most common sampling strategy. In this type of sampling, participants are selected or sought after based on pre-selected criteria based on the research question. For example, the study may be attempting to collect data from lymphoma patients in a particular city or country. The sample size may be predetermined or based on theoretical saturation, which is the point at which the newly collected on longer provides additional insights. Click on the following link for a description of purposeful sampling: Types of Purposeful Sampling.

          Quota Sampling is a sampling technique whereby participant quotas are preset prior to sampling. Typically, the researcher is attempting to gather data from a certain number of participants that meet certain characteristics that may include things such as age, sex, class, marital status, HIV status etc. Click here for more information on this type of sampling: Quota Sampling.

          Snowball Sampling is also known as chain referral sampling. In this method, the participants refer the researcher to others who may be able to potentially contribute or participate in the study. This method ofter helps researchers find and recruit participants that may otherwise be hard to reach. For more information, click here: Snowball Sampling.