Saunders, B., Sim, J., Kingstone, T. et al. Qual Quant (2018) 52: 1893. https://doi.org/10.

1007/s11135-
017-0574-8

Purposeful sampling is widely used in qualitative research for the identification and selection of
information-rich cases related to the phenomenon of interest. Although there are several different
purposeful sampling strategies, criterion sampling appears to be used most commonly in
implementation research. However, combining sampling strategies may be more appropriate to the
aims of implementation research and more consistent with recent developments in quantitative
methods. This paper reviews the principles and practice of purposeful sampling in implementation
recommendations for use of single strategy or multistage strategy designs, particularly for state
implementation research.
Palinkas, L. A., Horwitz, S. M., Green, C. A., Wisdom, J. P., Duan, N., & Hoagwood, K. (2015). Purposeful
Sampling for Qualitative Data Collection and Analysis in Mixed Method Implementation
Research. Administration and policy in mental health, 42(5), 533-44.