Steroids Research

[Pseudonym]

18 hours ago, hamdanz said:

Qualititive research sampling often uses theoretical sampling, by which participants are chosen based on research findings.  Data is analysed, and the direction of the research stipulates who needs to be researched.  E.g. Different ages and experience levels to contrast initial findings.  Also, criterion sampling.  The sample size is irrelevant.  When findings become saturated, and there are no new directions or questions asked, then that's when you know you've reached a suitable sample size.

You need to translate this back into English, bro!  

 

What is theoretical sampling? What is criterion sampling? How do you choose participants based on research finding if you haven't done the research yet? Give me some real-world examples to get my head around this! 

 

Are you saying that if I'm going to a small group of people who like fruit, and my only question is "What types of red apples do people like?", then it doesn't matter if this group doesn't include people who prefer bananas or green apples? 

 

What if I still don't have enough participants in that group to cover off all the different types of red apples?

[Pseudonym]

18 hours ago, lucymossmason said:

Just to provide you all an update on my research progress, I have completed 5 interviews so far.

Thanks for the update, Lucy. When will the results of this research be available? I'd be really interested to see them.

[lucymossmason]

2 hours ago, Pseudonym said:

Thanks for the update, Lucy. When will the results of this research be available? I'd be really interested to see them.

 

My project should be completed by the end of October. I will be sure to post back here to let you know if/when it will be published. 

[hamdanz]

On 6/5/2017 at 1:35 PM, Pseudonym said:

You need to translate this back into English, bro!  

 

What is theoretical sampling? What is criterion sampling? How do you choose participants based on research finding if you haven't done the research yet? Give me some real-world examples to get my head around this! 

 

Are you saying that if I'm going to a small group of people who like fruit, and my only question is "What types of red apples do people like?", then it doesn't matter if this group doesn't include people who prefer bananas or green apples? 

 

What if I still don't have enough participants in that group to cover off all the different types of red apples?

 

Criterion sampling often coincides with theoretical sampling.

 

Theoretical sampling - you interview a few people, transcribe the data, analyse it, and do the early coding (piecing similar pieces of data together to start constructing a model/theory/both).  Then you ask questions of the data - what data do I need to collect next?  What types of people do I need to interview /data do I collect next to find contrasting or supporting information.

 

e.g. for roids users you might start off with mainly young and inexperienced users, so your next sources of data would be older more experienced users to contrast motivations for consumption etc.    Then this builds a more holistic theory/model.

 

Criterion sampling is a way of choosing information-rich participants by placing strict guidelines on who you interview.  Such as the example used above, the criteria might be: age 30-50, using for more than 5 years, has competed in more than 3 bodybuilding shows or whatever etc.

 

When the findings become 'saturated', there are no new findings coming out of the data, even though you have interviewed different types of people etc.

 

That's when you know your sample is sufficient, regardless of whether you interviewed 10 or 30 people.

 

 

[Pseudonym]

Interesting. That gives me a much better understanding of Lucy's approach to this research project. Thanks, Hamdanz!