What factors should be considered when determining the sample size for a qualitative study?

Activity #2 on Sampling: SAMPLING – chapter 9 (2015, 2018, 2019)
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
Introduction: A sample is the selected group of people or elements in a study. The sample selected should represent an identified population, or a particular group of individuals or elements, that is the focus of the research.

1. The sampling criteria for a study are (1) men and women older than age 25 years, (2) who have no chronic illness, (3) who can read and write either English or Spanish, and (4) who completed the ninth grade.
a. Why might a researcher broadly define the eligibility or sampling criteria for a study?
b. What type of sample will result from broad eligibility criteria— homogeneous or heterogeneous?
c. Which research designs are most consistent with broad eligibility criteria?

2. The sample criteria for a study are (1) women between the ages of 35 and 45 years, (2) who have no chronic illness, (3) who are employed, (4) who have completed at least two years of college, and (5) who are not married or partnered.
a. Why might a researcher narrowly define the eligibility or sampling criteria for a study?
b. What are the challenges that can result from narrow eligibility criteria?
c. Which research designs are most consistent with narrow eligibility criteria?

3. Refer to the Padula et al. (2009) article (attached) to answer the following questions.
Padula, C., Yeaw, E., & Mistry, S. (2009). A home-based nurse-coached inspiratory muscle training intervention in heart failure. Applied Nursing Research, 22(1), 18-25. doi:10.1016/j.apnr.2007.02.002

a. What were the inclusion criteria?
b. What were the exclusion criteria?
c. What were the recruitment sites?
Of the screened subjects, what percent were eligible to participate? Check out the table and figure 1!
Look at figure 1. 288 screened – 248 ineligible = 40 not 36?! They meant to count the 4 refusals in with the eligible! # eligible 288-248=40
Show your math work, please!
d. # of eligible subjects / # screened x 100 = eligible
e. What was the refusal rate (calculation in your textbook)?
number refused /# eligible X 100 = refusal rate

QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
4. Consider the following questions.
a. What factors should be considered when determining the sample size for a qualitative study?
b. A qualitative researcher is planning a study of the phenomenon of seeking health care among low-literacy adults. Why might this study require a larger sample than some other qualitative studies?

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