sample size and transferability in qualitative research

So there was no uniform answer to the question and the ranges varied according to methodology. In fact, Shaw and Holland (2014) claim, sample size will largely depend on the method. (p. 87), "In truth," they write, "many decisions about sample size are made on the basis of resources, purpose of the research" among other factors. (p. 87).

The usually small sample size in qualitative research depends on the information richness of the data, the variety of participants (or other units), the broadness of the research question and the phenomenon, the data collection method (e.g., individual or group interviews) and the type of sampling strategy.

Sample sizes in qualitative research are guided by data adequacy, so an effective sample size is less about numbers (n's) and more about the ability of data to provide a rich and nuanced account of the phenomenon studied. Ultimately, determining and justifying sample sizes for qualitative research cannot be detached from the study ...

Background. Choosing a suitable sample size in qualitative research is an area of conceptual debate and practical uncertainty. That sample size principles, guidelines and tools have been developed to enable researchers to set, and justify the acceptability of, their sample size is an indication that the issue constitutes an important marker of the quality of qualitative research.

Part 2 of the series focused on context, research questions and design of qualitative research [2]. In this paper, Part 3, we address frequently asked questions (FAQs) about sampling, data collection and analysis. CONTACT Irene Korstjens [email protected] Zuyd University of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health Care, Research Centre for ...

There are variations to these methods themselves. 1. Test-retest reliability: This is a measure of reliability obtained by administering the same test twice over some time to a group of individuals. The scores obtained in the two tests can then be correlated to evaluate the test for stability over time.

Instead, concepts such as transferability can be used to reflect on the potential relevance and implications of qualitative research to other contexts. 2 The concept of transferability was first introduced by Lincoln and Guba 3 as an evaluative criterion suitable for constructivist 4 qualitative research to replace the (post-)positivist 4 ...

Transferability is established by providing readers with evidence that the research study's findings could be applicable to other contexts, situations, times, and populations. It is important to note that you as the researcher cannot prove that the research study's findings will be applicable. Instead, your job as the researcher is to ...

finds a variation of the sample size from 1 to 95 (averages being of 31 in the first ca se and 28 in the. second). The research region - one of t he cultural factors, plays a significant role in ...

The prevailing concept for sample size in qualitative studies is "saturation." Saturation is closely tied to a specific methodology, and the term is inconsistently applied. We propose the concept "information power" to guide adequate sample size for qualitative studies.

There is no commonly accepted sample size for qualitative studies because the optimal sample depends on the purpose of the study, research questions, and richness of the data. In qualitative content analysis, the homogeneity of the study participants or differences expected between groups are evaluated ( Burmeister, 2012 ; Sandelowski, 1995a ).

Sample size in qualitative research is always mentioned by reviewers of qualitative papers but discussion tends to be simplistic and relatively uninformed. The current paper draws attention to how sample sizes, at both ends of the size continuum, can be justified by researchers. This will also aid reviewers in their making of comments about the ...

We identified 31 relevant checklists. Six of these examined transferability of economic evaluations, and 25 examined transferability of primary or secondary research findings in health ( n = 23) or social welfare ( n = 2). The content analysis is based on the 25 health and social welfare checklists.

Determining adequate sample size in qualitative research is ultimately a matter of judgment and experience in evaluating the quality of the information collected against the uses to which it will be put, the particular research method and purposeful sampling strategy employed, and the research product intended. ©1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Sample adequacy in qualitative inquiry pertains to the appropriateness of the sample composition and size.It is an important consideration in evaluations of the quality and trustworthiness of much qualitative research [] and is implicated - particularly for research that is situated within a post-positivist tradition and retains a degree of commitment to realist ontological premises - in ...

Firestone,William A. (1993). Alternative arguments for generalizing from data as applied to qualitative research. Educational Researcher, 22(4), 16-22. Focuses on generalization in three areas of qualitative research: sample to population extrapolation, analytic generalization, and case-to-case transfer (16).

Determining an appropriate sampling method and adequacy of sample size remains a challenging aspect of qualitative research methodology. This paper highlights the key issues related to sampling ...

There are several debates concerning what sample size is the right size for such endeavors. Most scholars argue that the concept of saturation is the most important factor to think about when mulling over sample size decisions in qualitative research (Mason, 2010).Saturation is defined by many as the point at which the data collection process no longer offers any new or relevant data.

Using TRANSFER in a qualitative evidence synthesis. Although we have not yet used TRANSFER as part of a qualitative evidence synthesis, we believe that the process would be similar to that described above. The overall TRANSFER assessment could inform the GRADE-CERQual component relevance. A research agenda is in place to examine this further.

In qualitative research, various purposive sampling strategies that involve deliberate replication can be used to promote both analytic generalization and transferability. For example, critical case sampling, which involves selecting important replicates that illuminate critical aspects of a phenomenon ( Patton, 2002 ), can contribute to the ...

Sample Size. A common misconception about sampling in qualitative research is that numbers are unimportant in ensuring the adequacy of a sampling strategy. Yet, simple sizes may be too small to support claims of having achieved either informational redundancy or theoretical saturation, or too large to permit the ….

Principles of Purposeful Sampling. Purposeful sampling is a technique widely used in qualitative research for the identification and selection of information-rich cases for the most effective use of limited resources (Patton, 2002).This involves identifying and selecting individuals or groups of individuals that are especially knowledgeable about or experienced with a phenomenon of interest ...

Generalizability in qualitative research has been a controversial topic given that interpretivist scholars have resisted the dominant role and mandate of the positivist tradition within social sciences. Aiming to find universal laws, the positivist paradigm has made generalizability a crucial criterion for evaluating the rigor of quantitative ...