The interview ‘sample’ refers to the group of people whom you will interview.
Your sample is determined by a range of factors, including:
Constructing a sample includes making decisions about the number of people and the demographic composition of the people chosen to be interviewed (e.g. age, gender, socio-economic profile and other characteristics that are relevant to your study).
Qualitative researchers often tend to work with small sample sizes when they are interested in getting an in-depth understanding of processes, or the meanings that people attribute to their social situations.
Sampling decisions can have an impact on your research findings and the way they are received. It is important to:
The recruitment stage involves negotiating access to participants, including convincing participants of why it is necessary for them to participate in your study (England, 2002). Having a clear sampling strategy and understanding how it relates to you research question can be important in ensuring the success of your recruitment process.
Reflection exercise:
References: