Sampling in Qualitative Research: Insights from an Overview of the Methods Literature

摘要: Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines sampling as "the act, process, or technique of selecting a representative part population for the purpose determining parameters characteristics whole population." This popular understanding, however, differs from some understandings held by researchers and scholars in qualitative research domain. Influential methods authorities diverse backgrounds have contributed to these latter understandings, there is much natural variation sampling-related ideas they present. The existence even subtle inconsistencies, ambiguities, incomplete descriptions literature regarding certain issues can be problematic students seeking develop coherent understanding that applicable their situation. problem exacerbated fact individuals often lack time search, retrieve, review systematically exhaustively comprehensive balanced knowledge available guidance. Even seasoned researchers, who are usually expertly versed chosen approach tradition, may come prefer become most intimately familiar with subset authors within tradition. Thus, not comprehensively full range opinions across (including any inconsistencies among them) tradition specific issue --something only revealed through systematic comparison. Systematic comparison turn depends on selection compared. Systematically searching literature, generally more burdensome than it empirical findings literature. because greater proportion found books edited book chapters, which take substantially effort identify, scan relevant content compared journal articles. To fill need rigorous synthesis guidance research, we conducted overview--our term defined reviewing sources, described here. method involved transparent, yet purposeful, aimed at influential publications--ones multiple jurisdictions likely encounter writings address sampling. We chose grounded theory, phenomenology, case study approaches traditions used many health-related disciplines, also sufficiently different allow instructive comparisons made each topics addressed below. Our organized under eight distinct topic sections corresponding major domains identified process. In section, summarize how characterized reviewed, present comparative analysis differences three traditions, finally offer comments representing our clarity, consistency comprehensiveness reviewed potential areas clarity could provided. Importantly, neither aim nor intention convey personal recommendations about do this review. By unifying discussion sections, make convenient readers locate single one place. Three Research Traditions Reviewed Each whose literatures were its unique data collection analysis, underlies important researchers' attention …