Hello,
I am going to follow the snowball or chain referral sampling technique as the sampling frames and information on the target populations are unavailable in my qualitative research focus. I am looking for the standard/minimum/maximum number for the foundation interview with appropriate references. Thanks.
Researchers who are new to qualitative data collection often wish there were "magic numbers" that determine how many interviews are enough. Instead, the classic answer is that you should seek saturation, so that further interviews contain no new information. Once your interviews become repetitive, there is no reason to continue -- but it is impossible to predict in advance when this will occur.
Researchers who are new to qualitative data collection often wish there were "magic numbers" that determine how many interviews are enough. Instead, the classic answer is that you should seek saturation, so that further interviews contain no new information. Once your interviews become repetitive, there is no reason to continue -- but it is impossible to predict in advance when this will occur.
The research is based on a research methodology that includes data, methods, models. and so on The topic of the research is very important, given the fact that the data can be quantitatively based on the sample, but can also be qualitative based on existing scientific substantiations in the specialized scientific literature. Research-based on the interview tool can centralize data that is sometimes not relevant to the topic of the paper.
Snowball sampling is often used with 'hard to reach' and/or 'vulnerable' populations. As David alludes to, an advantage is that it presents its own form of potential saturation i.e. one participant is interviewed - which leads to the next. Eventually, the researcher should start getting a sense of when repitition etc starts occuring. The disadvantage of snowballing is that this point may never be reached - because of the lack of availability of enough participants.
Dear Professor David L Morgan
Thanks for your answer. I also agree with you that there is no magic number. Besides, I think the knowledge of the interview participants is another important factor. Difficulties arise when the referred participants can not add more information or repeat. Thanks.
Dear Dean Whitehead
Thanks for your answer. I completely understand. Considering my research setting, I found snowballing as the best. Any better idea from you than snowballing?
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