PR1

Q4-W1
Qualitative Research
Designs and Sampling
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DESIGN
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Research Design refers to the overall strategy

chosen to integrate the different components of the
study in a coherent and logical way, thereby,
ensuring that the research problem is effectively
addressed. It constitutes the blueprint for the
collection, measurement, and analysis of data. Note
that the research problem determines the type of
design to use, not the other way around !
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Urquhart et al. (2013) highlight four key characteristics of Grounded
Theory Method . The first characteristic is that researchers should ensure
that no preconceived theoretical ideas are formed before starting the
research. Glaser (1998) reports that reviewing literature might
contaminate or impede the researcher’s effort to generate categories.
However, Andrew (2006) argues that researchers launching into data
collection and analysis without first looking at literature is a general
misconception. Similarly, Martin (2006) asserts that appropriately using
literature in GTM allows the researcher to find the research problem. With
this awareness, I ensured that I approached the research with an open
mind and carried out a non-committal pre-study literature review to
discover the research problem. Data was coded and analyzed using the
Glaserian paradigm (open, selective and theoretical coding)
.(from https://socialworkhaven.com/example-ground-theory-research/
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TYPES OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGNS

Grounded theory is a systematic procedure of data analysis,
typically associated with qualitative research, that allows researchers to
develop a theory that explains a specific phenomenon. Grounded
theory was developed by Glaser and Strauss and is used to
conceptualize phenomenon using research; grounded theory is not
seen as a descriptive method and originates from sociology. The unit
of analysis in grounded theory is a specific phenomenon or incident,
not individual behaviors. The primary data collection method is
through interviews of approximately 20 – 30 participants
or until data achieves saturation.
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Contextualising the Subcultures of Men

As previously stated this study involved over two years of fieldwork with
two groups of young men, one from a remote fishing village, and another
group who frequented a gymnasium in metropolitan Australia. I am in my
mid-thirties and considers himself to be a white middle class male. My
interest in men’s issues began five years ago when I studied the
narcissistic elements of identity from a psychoanalytical perspective (Gill
& Kostanski, 2004). The current ethnographic study arose out of a desire
to study in detail the identity of men, and in particular the identities of
sub-groups of men, as a means of developing theory relating to the
social/psychological dialectic.
(from https://vuir.vu.edu.au/2052/1/The_everyday_lives_of_men.pdf)
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Ethnographic studies are qualitative procedures utilized to

describe, analyze and interpret a culture’s characteristics.
Ethnography was developed in the 19th and 20th centuries and
used by anthropologists to explore primitive cultures different
from their own; it originated from Anthropology. Ethnography
is used when a researcher wants to study a group of people to
gain a larger understanding of their lives or specific aspects of
their lives. The primary data collection method is through
observation over an extended period of time.
It would also be appropriate to interview
others who have studied the same cultures.
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Lived experiences and essences. Lived experiences and essences
are two constructs in phenomenological research (Vagle, 2014). Lived
experiences, as the participant describes them, are used to define the
universal structures (i.e., essences) of the phenomenon (De Chesnay,
2014). Lived experiences are the ways in which people live in relation to
a phenomenon. Vagle (2014) used the following example to distinguish
between other qualitative data and lived experiences. Other qualitative
traditions might describe how a tree looks (e.g., the bark, the branches,
the leaves). Phenomenologists would be more concerned with how an
individual experiences the tree, the personal meaning they associate
with it.
(from
https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5044&cont
ext=open_access_etds)
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Phenomenology is used to identify phenomena and

focus on subjective experiences and understanding the
structure of those lived experiences. It was founded in the
early 20th century by Edmund Husserl and Martin
Heideggar and originated from philosophy.
Phenomenology is used to describe, in depth, the common
characteristics of the phenomena that has occurred. The
primary data collection method is through
in-depth interviews.
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The following four participant narratives—one each from Maria, Arlene,
Vince, and Rina—contain stories about becoming teachers and developing
teacher identities. Participants’ names have been changed, although
gender identification has been preserved. Most other narrative details
except for academic majors and tribe affiliations have been generalized to
provide as much anonymity as possible for participants, their families, and
their schools. Each narrative is divided into five sections: (a) personal,
family, and community background; (b) the ute teacher training program;
(c) student teaching; (d) first year teaching; and (e) professional identity.
These sections correspond to elements of the primary research question.
(from
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1180&context=
etd)
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Case studies are believed to have originated in 1829 by

Frederic Le Play. Case studies are rooted in several
disciplines, including science, education, medicine, and law.
Case studies are to be used when (1) the researcher wants to
focus on how and why, (2) the behavior is to be observed,
not manipulated, (3) to further understand a given
phenomenon, and (4) if the boundaries between the context
and phenomena are not clear. Multiple methods can be
used to gather data, including interviews,
observation, and historical documentation.
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Historical research which is applied in social work is one of the methods
to describe how and where social work started, how it developed during
time and where it stands today. Results of historical studies can form
blueprints for contemporary social services programs or models for
community developments. The paper deals with two levels of historical
research in social work. At first describes it at general, defines the term
historiography, shows similarities and differences from other areas and
methodological fundamentals. In the second part the paper offers a
practical examples of these type of research. It presents a qualified
knowledge of the history of social welfare and social work in Czech
Republic.
(fromhttps://periodika.osu.cz/eris/dok/201202/04_historical_research_in
_social_work.pdf
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Historical Study is the right method to use to

determine the reasons for changes or permanence of
things in the physical world in a certain period. This study
differs from other qualitative studies because of the
element of time duration or scope. The scope or
coverage of a historical study refers to the number of
years covered, the kind of events focused on, and the
extent of new knowledge or discoveries resulting from the
historical study..
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Research Questions
The research questions for this study were:
1. How do individuals make meaning of their experiences using social networking
sites?
2. How social networking site users describe their online and offline social
relationships?
Research Method
Qualitative research (Creswell, 1998) provides a method for researchers to learn about
a phenomenon that has little research by exploring the experiences of people in their
natural environment rather that confirming or denying a preconceived theory (Hunt,
2011). As social networking site usage is a phenomenon that has received little research
focus (Kim et al., 2009), this research used a qualitative phenomenological
methodology. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the following
research questions: (1) How do individuals make meaning of their
experiences using social networking sites? (2) How social
networking site users describe their online and offline social relationships?
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QUALITATIVE
RESEARCH SAMPLING
METHODS
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Sampling refers to the method or process of

selecting respondents or people to answer questions
meant to yield data for the research study.
- The chosen respondents constitute the sample
through which facts and evidence are derived to
support the claims or conclusions propounded by the
research problem
- The bigger group from where the sample is chosen is
called the population.
- Sampling frame refers to the list of the members
of such population from where the sample was taken.
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Probability sampling (unbiased sampling)

involves all members listed in the sampling
frame representing a certain population focused
on by the study. An equal chance of participation
in the sampling or selection process is given to
every member listed in the sampling frame. By
means of this unbiased sampling, a sample
capable of representing the population of the
study or of showing similarities in characteristics
with the members of the population is obtained
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TYPES OF PROBABILITY SAMPLING

1.Simple Random Sampling – is the

best type of probability sampling since
samples are chosen from a population by
pure-chance selectionhence every member
shares the same opportunity to be chosen as
a sample. The only basis for excluding or
including a member is by chance or
opportunity, not by any occurrence
accounted for by any relationships.
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2. Systematic sampling is a
kind of probability sampling
where chance and system are to
determine who should compose
the sample
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3. Stratified sampling. In this

method, the population is divided into
subgroups or categories (strata) such as
male or female, mother or father, teacher
or student, then from this subgroup or
strata, samples are selected. For example
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4. Cluster sampling, here the population is

divided onto groups or clusters which are unique,
yet representing a diverse group such as
geographical locations (cities or rural areas), types
of classes (school districts, grade 11 classes). From
the list of clusters, samples are randomly selected
as research participants. In stratified sampling, all
strata are represented in the sample while in
clustering, only a subset of the clusters are
included.
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NON- PROBABILITY SAMPLING

In a non-probability sample, individuals are selected
based on non-random (non-specific) criteria, so not every
individual has a chance of being included as sample.
This method allows the researchers to select sample
based on convenience or other scale or basis allowing
them to easily collect the needed data. Samples derived
from these sampling methods are useful only for
descriptive, exploratory and other types of qualitative
research designs where generalization of the population
is not required
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Non-probability sampling is when the samples

are selected or created through a non-random
process due to some factors or characteristics
that give them the chance of participating in a
study that others in the population do not
possess. Non –probability sampling includes
quota, purposive, snowball and convenience
sampling. Sometimes, non-probability results
cannot be generalized to an entire population
with a high level of confidence.
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Quota Sampling. Here the researcher

establishes participant quotas before
forming a sample. Selection of
participants that meet certain traits
like gender, age, health, etc. is done,
then the researcher solicits
participation from the needed
category until the target sample
(quota) is met.
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Purposive Sampling. As the word

itself suggests, the researcher selects
the samples that fit the purpose of the
study. For example, the needs
respondents who use particular
product, then the respondents would
be anyone who uses the said
product.
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Snowball Sampling. This is named because

just like a snowball accumulating snow along
the way, here the respondents are gathered
based on the referral made by the previously
selected respondent. This sampling method is
used when the respondents are hard to find
populations like drug dealers, drug addicts,
gang members, and other hard-to-track
populations
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Convenience Sampling. As the

word connotes, the sample is
composed of people who are
‘convenient’ to the researcher. For
example, he chooses respondents
from the school near his home or
from the mall which is just a walking
distance from his home
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1. You conducted an informal survey in your classroom by arranging the

groups into 5 rows, then you survey three of them. What sampling
procedure did you apply?
A. Simple random B. Stratified
C. Clustering D. Systematic
2. During recitation, the teacher puts each student’s name on a popsicle
stick and then pulls a popsicle stick to call on the student. What
sampling procedure did the teacher employ?
A. Stratified B. Simple random
C. Systematic D. Clustering
3. The teacher uses your whole class in a sample classroom activity
where he groups you according to your gender. What sampling
procedure did the teacher use?
A. Clustering B. Stratified
C. Simple random D. Systematic
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4. A major mall chain with a branch in all major cities in the country
commissioned you to conduct a research about the employees’
work satisfaction in the grocery section. You are allowed not to
travel to all the branches scattered all over the country, so you
choose 3 malls in random and use them as your sample. What
sampling procedure did you use?
A. Clustering B. Stratified
C. Systematic D. Simple random
5. Your research teacher asked you to conduct a survey about
students’ preferences of milk tea substitute, so during your free
time, you ask your friends from other sections to answer your
survey form. What sampling procedure did you adapt?
A. Convenience B. Snowball
C. Purposive D. Quota
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6. Your friend is conducting a study about the employability of former

ex-convicts so you told her that your neighbor has just been freed
from prison. What sampling procedure is described in your
action?
A. Purposive B. Quota C. Convenience D. Snowball
7. You are researching about experiences of children of alcoholic
parents, and it so happens that your best friend’s father is an
alcoholic and after agreeing to participate in your study, she
recommends another friend who also has the same experience.
What sampling procedure are you using?
A. Quota B. Convenience
C. Snowball D. Quota
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8. A pharmaceutical company is developing a drug for HIV and

they want to conduct a preliminary study about HIV victims.
What is the best non-probability sampling procedure is
most applicable to us?
A. Quota B. Convenience
C. Snowball D. Quota
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Thanks!