Participant selection
In most quantitative studies, sampling refers to picking a statistically significant number of “somethings” out of a certain population. “Statistically significant” is not a concept relevant to qualitative research, in fact the parallel process is often called participant selection. Qualitative research collects rich data from fewer sources than a quantitative study. Selection criteria for eligibility in a study is similar for both quantitative and qualitative studies, but choosing the number of “somethings” to include in a qualitative study is a matter of much discussion, even among expert researchers.
For your initial post in this discussion, state the factors you would consider in choosing participants for the study. In particular, how would you go about deciding how many participants to interview given a particular methodology? In addition, write about how you will select your participants for the study you are writing a proposal for in this course. How many participants do you think you will need (support your answer)? [If you are not interviewing in your study, tell instead how you are picking the “something(s)” you are collecting data from—sites, documents, etc.].
Your initial post should be at least 300 words.
Answer preview to participant selection
APA
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