Sampling

Question 1

What is the criteria for a study to be mixed methods?

Answer 1

Morse & Niehaus, 2009

• Contain a core study
• An incomplete, supplementary study which expands the scope of the projects

Question 2

What are the positives about a mixed methods design?

Answer 2

Morse & Niehaus, 2009

• Completion of a single research project more expeditiously and efficiently than conducting multiple methods designs through a series of related projects.
• To comprehensively address the research question sometimes a mixed methods design is needed. eg. in a qualitative study in order to measure an aspect of the phenomenon.

Question 3

Name some issues with mixed-methods designs?

Answer 3

1. Greene, 2006 - Quantitative & Qualitative research belong to different and incompatible paradigms.
2. Morse & Niehaus, 2009 - problems with mixed-methods designs may lie with different ‘academic turf’ and the devaluation of the qualitative component.
3. Morse & Niehaus, 2009 - No consensus about hot to evaluate different mixed-methods designs, some researchers suggest evaluating quant and qual using their separate criteria, others argue the study is more than just the sum of its parts.

Question 4

What are the points of interface for a mixed-methods study?

Answer 4

Morse & Niehaus, 2009.

1. In the analysis of the core component.
2. In the results narrative of the core component.

Question 5

When considering Sampling, what should be considered?

Answer 5

Mertens, 1998

1. Who has access to the information.
2. The characteristics of the people who have experienced the phenomenon - age, disability, etc - any elements which may prevent meaningful participation.
3. Type of information needed - eg. fact based information a carer/organisation may be able to give you the information. However, if wanting attitudinal information a carer may not be able to share this accurately.
4. What are they hoping to find - therefore homogeneity or variability of sample.

Question 6

Explain probability Sampling

Answer 6

Random Sampling with a lottery procedure

Question 7

Explain systematic Sampling

Answer 7

Choose every (eg.10th) participant on a population list

Question 8

Explain Stratified Sampling

Answer 8

Added through sub-groups eg. male and female. Disproportionate or proportionate sampling from subgroups.

Question 9

Explain Cluster Sampling

Answer 9

eg. choose a random city block, classroom and sample all within this group.

Question 10

Explain Purposeful Sampling

Answer 10

Choosing particular people for reasons eg. increasing or decreasing variability of the sample.

Question 11

Explain Snowball Sampling

Answer 11

Also known as chain sampling - starts with key informants/experts and they refer to other participants.

Question 12

What is a Coverage error?

Answer 12

Participants should be in a sampling frame but are not there / people are ineligible for the sampling frame.

Question 13

What is a nonresponse error?

Answer 13

When someone refuses to be interviewed or doesn’t complete the questionnaire or cannot be reached.

Question 14

What is a Sampling error?

Answer 14

Each sample drawn from the population is somewhat different from another sample.

Question 15

Why is it useful to use a larger sample size for a qualitative IPA study?

Answer 15

It will reduce the risk of the sample being biased by atypical experiences or viewpoints. Forrester, 2010.

Question 16

Henry, ___

‘Non probability samples add uncertainty when the sample is used to __________

Answer 16

Henry, 1990

‘Non-probability samples add uncertainty when the sample is used to represent the population as a whole’

Question 17

Stake, ___
‘The first criterion should be to maximise what we can ____. Given our purposes, which cases are likely to lead us to ____, _____, perhaps even to modifying _____?’

Answer 17

Stake, 1995
‘The first criterion should be to maximise what we can learn. Given our purposes, which cases are likely to lead us to understandings, assertions, perhaps even modifying generalizations?’

Question 18

What 2 things does Stake suggest we need to consider about sampling? Stake, ____.

Answer 18

• Accessibility is important - time and access are limited.

- Consider how contexts may aid or restrict our learnings.

Question 19

Who talks about saturations points?

Answer 19

Yow, 1994 ‘ When you have heard the same story for the 20th time and you are not getting any new information, you probably have heard enough.’

Question 20

What partly determines our ability to detect statistically significant results?

Answer 20

The amount of variability in the sample
Less variability from larger sample size = greater sensitivity.
More variability from smaller sample size = less sensitivity.