If the research design is qualitative, data collection is via semi structured interviews and analysis include thematic analysis and fuzzy . What should be the optimal sample size? Is there any rational behind the number of interviews or any reference?
Hello Riya,
The answer depends on many things, among these is the proximate goal of your work. Here's a pretty good and straightforward summary of some of the methods/rationales that folks have applied in the qualitative arena: Article Characterising and justifying sample size sufficiency in int...
Good luck with your work.
Versions of this question have been asked several times, so I suggest you use the search window at the top of the page to locate those discussions.
No defined sample size but just an estimate of how many interviews to reach data saturation. Too many interviews can lead to data overload. Usually between 10 and 25 at most(in my experience). Remember qualitative analysis is deep, not broad. Its all about asking the right questions to the right people.
Though the concept of saturation has been controversial (Marshall et al., 2013; Sebele-Mpofu, 2020), it is regarded as a gold standard for determining sample sizes in qualitative research (Guest et al., 2006; Morse, 2015). Saturation is the point when collecting new qualitative data yields redundant information or has no significant addition to what has been collected and analyzed. For elaboration on the different types of saturation, you might check out the article by Saunders et al. (2018). You could also go through the useful guidelines discussed by Guest et al. (2006) since they help determine theoretical saturation in interview-based research. Further, you could consider the recent relevant insights rendered by Guest et al. (2020) and Hennink et al. (2017).
Guest, G., Bunce, A., & Johnson, L. (2006). How many interviews are enough? An experiment with data saturation and variability. Field Methods, 18(1), 59–82. https://doi.org/10.1177/1525822X05279903
Guest, G., Namey, E., & Chen, M. (2020). A simple method to assess and report thematic saturation in qualitative research. PLOS ONE, 15(5), e0232076. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0232076
Hennink, M. M., Kaiser, B. N., & Marconi, V. C. (2017). Code saturation versus meaning saturation: How many interviews are enough? Qualitative Health Research, 27(4), 591–608. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732316665344
Marshall, B., Cardon, P., Poddar, A., & Fontenot, R. (2013). Does sample size matter in qualitative research? A review of qualitative interviews in is research. Journal of Computer Information Systems, 54(1), 11–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/08874417.2013.11645667
Morse, J. M. (2015). “Data were saturated…” Qualitative Health Research, 25(5), 587–588. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732315576699
Saunders, B., Sim, J., Kingstone, T., Baker, S., Waterfield, J., Bartlam, B., Burroughs, H., & Jinks, C. (2018). Saturation in qualitative research: Exploring its conceptualization and operationalization. Quality & Quantity, 52(4), 1893–1907. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-017-0574-8
Sebele-Mpofu, F. Y. (2020). Saturation controversy in qualitative research: Complexities and underlying assumptions. A literature review. Cogent Social Sciences, 6(1), 1838706. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2020.1838706
Good luck,
Saturation point in interviews
Grady (1998: p. 26) provides a similar description of data saturation as the point at which: ... In interviews, when the researcher begins to hear the same comments again and again, data saturation is being reached… It is then time to stop collecting information and to start analysing what has been collected
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