Purposive sampling

Sampling is usually discussed in terms of data collection. It refers to which members of a population to collect data from, or how to select data form some canon (e.g. if analysing examination questions from an archive of examination papers going back decades, offering too many for close consideration of each question). Sampling is usually designed to give a representative sample of a population (empirical or statistical) or to select particular study participants because they are considered to be the most useful informants to help answer research questions (theoretical or purposive).

Theoretical sampling is a core characteristic of studies adopting a Grounded Theory methodology, but this approach is also used in other types of research design.

In purposive sampling, participants are selected or not according to particular characteristics:

An example

“Purposive sampling was used to identify rural Directors of Nursing living in Victoria to participate in this study. … In this study the inclusion criteria for participants required them to be working in a rural health service at the level of Director of Nursing and speak fluent English.” (Bish, Kenny, Nay, 2013: 287)

Bish, M., Kenny, A., & Nay, R. (2013). Using participatory action research to foster nurse leadership in Australian rural hospitals. Nursing & health sciences, 15(3), 286-291.

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