Sample size for qualitative research
Sample size for qualitative research
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DOI：
10.1108/qmr-06-2016-0053
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发表时间：
2016-01-01
影响因子：
1.7
通讯作者：
Boddy, Clive Roland
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Boddy, Clive Roland
目的-定性研究人员一直被批评在他们的研究中没有证明样本大小的决定。这篇简短的论文解决了在不同的定性研究方法中样本大小是适当和有效的问题。设计/方法论/方法-对定性研究中样本量的稀疏文献进行了回顾和讨论。这个检查是由作者的个人经验，在评估方面，作为一个编辑，审稿人的意见，因为他们涉及到样本量在定性研究通知。此外，作者在过去31年中从事商业和学术定性研究的经验也为讨论提供了信息。在定性研究中，样本量的确定是有背景的，部分取决于正在进行调查的科学范式。例如，面向实证主义的定性研究将需要比深入的定性研究更大的样本，以便可以获得所审查的整个人口的代表性图像。尽管如此，该论文还得出结论，从管理和医学研究的例子中可以看出，涉及单个病例的样本量可以提供大量信息和有意义的信息。使用单一样本或案例，但涉及潜在高度相关的新领域或发现的独特研究例子，可能值得发表。理论饱和也可以作为设计定性研究的有用指南，实际研究表明，12个样本可能是数据饱和发生在相对均匀的人群中的情况。实际意义-样本大小尽可能低，可以证明。研究人员和审稿人可能会发现本文的讨论是确定和批评定性研究中样本量的有用指南。原创性/价值——定性研究中的样本量总是被定性论文的审稿人提到，但讨论往往过于简单和相对无知。当前的论文引起了人们的注意，即在大小连续体的两端，研究人员如何证明样本大小是合理的。这也将有助于审稿人对定性研究中样本量的适当性作出评论。
Purpose - Qualitative researchers have been criticised for not justifying sample size decisions in their research. This short paper addresses the issue of which sample sizes are appropriate and valid within different approaches to qualitative research.Design/methodology/approach - The sparse literature on sample sizes in qualitative research is reviewed and discussed. This examination is informed by the personal experience of the author in terms of assessing, as an editor, reviewer comments as they relate to sample size in qualitative research. Also, the discussion is informed by the author's own experience of undertaking commercial and academic qualitative research over the last 31 years.Findings -In qualitative research, the determination of sample size is contextual and partially dependent upon the scientific paradigm under which investigation is taking place. For example, qualitative research which is oriented towards positivism, will require larger samples than in-depth qualitative research does, so that a representative picture of the whole population under review can be gained. Nonetheless, the paper also concludes that sample sizes involving one single case can be highly informative and meaningful as demonstrated in examples from management and medical research. Unique examples of research using a single sample or case but involving new areas or findings that are potentially highly relevant, can be worthy of publication. Theoretical saturation can also be useful as a guide in designing qualitative research, with practical research illustrating that samples of 12 may be cases where data saturation occurs among a relatively homogeneous population.Practical implications - Sample sizes as low as one can be justified. Researchers and reviewers may find the discussion in this paper to be a useful guide to determining and critiquing sample size in qualitative research.Originality/value - 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 appropriateness of sample sizes in qualitative research.