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Qualitative Observation and Sampling

Research · April 2015

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.4201.1045

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Running head: QUALITATIVE OBSERVATION AND SAMPLING 1

Qualitative Observation and Sampling

Mabior Ayuen, PhD Student

Dr. Patricia Fusch, PhD

Walden University

April 12, 2015

QUALITATIVE OBSERVATION AND SAMPLING 2

Introduction

The qualitative research approach demonstrated a type of scientific studies

and consisted a number of investigations that including collects evidence and

open-ended questions (Creswell, 2013). The qualitative researchers would

illustrate the accurate information about the behaviors and social contexts in term

of particular populations (Janesick, 2011). In approaching qualitative research

method, the researchers would demonstrate the sample from the population that

included in-depth methods and relationship effects (Patton, 2002). In quantitative

research process, the researchers would examine a number of people in the

quantitative study and generalized beyond the empirical research approaches

(Noy, 2008). The main purpose of this qualitative research approach is to address

the sample size and diversity of the sample population. This article will discuss the

following topics including sampling strategy, sample size, recommendation and

justification in the qualitative research approach.

Sampling Strategy

The primary goal of this qualitative sampling strategy is to address the

research questions, the time frame of the study and allocated the resources from

the population sampled (Marshall et al, 2013). In approaching qualitative methods,

QUALITATIVE OBSERVATION AND SAMPLING 3

Patton (2002) illustrated that the sampling strategy demonstrated the qualitative

problematic research because the researchers implied the population sampled. In

the quantitative methods, the researchers would recognize and focus on the

probability and convenience sampling approaches. In the qualitative approach, the

qualitative researchers would focus on the selection of individuals and settings

either purposeful sampling or criterion-based selection. In fact, there were a

number of qualitative sampling strategies that researchers would benefit in the

study of sampling strategy approach (Patton, 2002). First, the researchers would

focus on the deviant case sampling and demonstrated the manifestations of the

phenomenon interests such as notable failures and events (Patton, 2002). The

deviant case sampling would describe a number of dropouts in the classroom or

significant failures in the qualitative sampling strategy. Second, the researchers

would demonstrate the ability to manage convenience sampling that including

save money and energy. The convenience sampling would create the same time

and effort because it has the lowest credibility to access. Third, the researchers

would identify the snowball sampling such as located the abundant information

from the participants. The snowball sampling would help to identify the case

questions of interest people and collected the precious information from the
QUALITATIVE OBSERVATION AND SAMPLING 4

population sampling (Creswell, 2013). Finally, the researchers would bring a

number of people with similar experiences and backgrounds such as homogeneous

sampling (Creswell, 2013). The same sampling would reduce the variation and

help in the sample of all single parents or female and male head of households

(Gibbs et al, 2007).

Sample Size

The purpose of this qualitative sample size is to focus on a number of

participants in the research study area within a large population (Creswell, 2013).

In qualitative sampling strategy and sample size, the researchers would select the

sample population and illustrated the subset of the population in the qualitative

studies (Owen & Lewins, 2002). In the quantitative research approach, the

researchers would focus and review the following steps. First, the researchers

would target the population sampling strategy and separated the sample size from

the population. Second, the researchers would create and select the accessibility of

population. Third, the researchers would restate the eligibility criteria of the

population sampling strategy. Finally, the researchers would outline the sampling

strategy plan and recruited the sample population size. In approaching qualitative

sampling strategy and sample size, the researchers would demonstrate a number of
QUALITATIVE OBSERVATION AND SAMPLING 5

studies and followed the qualitative steps. First, the researchers would generate the

sample ideas where the population strategy plan began with a number of sampling

cases through quota and snowball sample procedures. Second, the researchers

would create a number of sample units based on what the researchers already

selected in the qualitative studies. Third, some qualitative researchers believed that

the sample size would represent a number of variations on the target population

sampling plan. Finally, the researchers illustrated that the sample size would base

on the qualitative approach of the sample size study and data collection approach

within a large population.

In approaching qualitative studies, the goal of this qualitative sample size is

to understand the selection of participants in the research study area within a large

population (Creswell, 2013 and Patton, 2002). Gibbs et al (2007) and Patton

(2002) demonstrated that there were a number of methods the researchers would

estimate the sample size based on the data collection methods through an

extensive population sampling strategy plan. First, the researchers would select the

case study and phenomenology research methods based on one case person upon

ten participants. Second, the researchers would define the grounded theory and

ethnography research strategies in term of 10-20 members. Third, the researchers

QUALITATIVE OBSERVATION AND SAMPLING 6

would interview the key informants and focus groups approximately 5-30

members. Finally, the researchers would estimate the sample size based on the

qualitative methods of the research study and data collection approach. In

comparison with, the quantitative research studies would strive the random

sampling whereas the qualitative research studies would demonstrate the

purposeful sampling in the qualitative sampling and sample size approaches

within the population. In qualitative research method, the NVivo is the best-suited

teaching tools and would be a useful software for the research methods because a

number of documents would be stored in one place (Bazeley, 2007). The

researchers believed that NVivo was the best-suited tools used in the computer

software to store a variety of documents and data collection (Bazeley, 2007). First,

the researchers would demonstrate the qualitative studies through grounded theory

and methodological notes. Second, the researchers would identify and explain a

number of qualitative approaches such as participant observations and

ethnographic field notes. Third, the researchers would organize and analyze data

collection through independent qualitative research. Fourth, the researchers would

use the NVivo computer software for the qualitative data analysis and theory
QUALITATIVE OBSERVATION AND SAMPLING 7

approach. Finally, the researchers would illustrate the case studies and

methodological approaches.

Recommendation and Justification

In qualitative empirical studies, the researchers would recommend and

justify through research questions, references, and literature reviews (Creswell,

2013). The qualitative researchers defined the theoretical frameworks and

concepts because the researchers would focus on the sampling population and data

collection approach (Patton, 2002). In approaching qualitative sampling and

sample size, there were a number of level studies to recommend and justify the

sample population. First, the case study approach would limit the small sample

size population, but it would provide the relevant information about a natural

setting. Second, the descriptive study approach would describe the range of

activities without furthering exploration. Finally, the case study and narrative

methods would collect the essential new information about research questions, a

timeline of the study areas, and allocated the resources available. The researchers

believed that NVivo was the best-suited tools used in the computer software to

store a variety of documents and data collection. First, the researchers would

demonstrate the qualitative studies through grounded theory and methodological

QUALITATIVE OBSERVATION AND SAMPLING 8

notes. Second, the researchers would identify and explain a number of qualitative

approaches such as participant observations and ethnographic field notes. Finally,

the researchers would organize and analyze data collection through independent

qualitative research.

Conclusion

The main purpose of this qualitative research plan is to address a number of

participants and diversity of the sample population. The qualitative research

approach would address and focus on the following topics including sampling

strategy, sample size, recommendation, and justification. The qualitative research

approach demonstrated a type of scientific studies and consisted a number of

investigations that including collects evidence and open-ended questions

(Creswell, 2013). The qualitative researchers would obtain the accurate

information about the behaviors and social contexts in term of particular

populations (Janesick, 2011). In approaching qualitative research method, the

researchers would demonstrate the sample from the population that included in-

depth methods and relationship effects (Patton, 2002). In the quantitative research

process, the researchers would examine a number of people in the quantitative

study and generalized beyond the empirical research approaches (Noy, 2008).
QUALITATIVE OBSERVATION AND SAMPLING 9

References

Bazeley, P. (2007). Qualitative data analysis with NVivo. Thousand Oaks, CA:

Sage Publications, Inc.

Creswell, J. W. (2013). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among

five approaches (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.

Gibbs, L., Kealy, M., Willis, K., Green, J., (2007). What have sampling and data

collection got to do with good qualitative research? Australian & New

Zealand Journal of Public Health, 31(6), 540-544. doi:10.1111/j.1753-

6405.2007.00140.x

Janesick, V. J. (2011). "Stretching" exercises for qualitative researchers (3rd ed.).

Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.

Marshall, B., Cardon, P., Poddar, A., & Fontenot T, R. (2013). Does sample size

matter in qualitative research? Journal of Computer Information Systems,

54(1), 11-22. doi:10.1211/j.1753-6405.2007.00140.x

Noy, C. (2008). Sampling knowledge: The hermeneutics of snowball sampling in

qualitative research. International Journal of Social Research Methodology,

11(4), 327-344. doi:10.1080/13645570701401305

Owen, C., & Lewins, A. (2002). Book reviews. International Journal of Social
 QUALITATIVE OBSERVATION AND SAMPLING 10

Research Methodology, 5(3), 289-291. doi:10.1080/13645570210146339

Patton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative research and evaluation methods (3rd ed.).

Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.

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