What is a quality sample size?

In qualitative research, a qualitative sample size is the number of subjects in the study. Qualitative research depends on the rich and living descriptions of people and their words and deeds in the studied environment. The quality of the sample is usually relatively small, on average from one to 15 people. This differs from quantitative research that is mathematically and statistically based research that relies on much larger samples, sometimes up to 1,000 subjects or more. For example, quantitative studies may include comprehensive statistics on response to a survey of 1,000 subjects that have been asked about their views on religion, while qualitative studies on the same topic may include interviews with only three people. Although it may be appropriate, but not necessary, to include some direct citations and anecdots from subjects to a quantitative study, these types of details for qualitative research studies are absolutely essential. For example, a qualitative research study could focus on thorough interviews with 10 studiesNTY and two teachers on the reasons why students leave a school with a high degree of early completion of their studies.

Another example of a qualitative study may be long -term and involves watching three university students in the educational program for teachers during their higher year of college and at the first five years of their career teaching to find out to which they performed the education methods they learned in their higher education courses. A study like this would require both detailed observations of the behavior of teachers in the classroom and in -depth conversations with them. The result would be limited rather than generally, a conclusion on their use of teaching methods obtained at university and their reasons for their use or not in use.

In this type of research, there are cases where a qualitative sample size would be appropriate. For example, a case study of psychology could focus on one client withDiagnosed with an interrupted explosive disorder with which the doctor has worked for a certain period of time. In this case study, a psychologist could try to help the client improve his explosions of anger and restore normal life experimentally using cognitive strategies and behavior management techniques. A psychologist cooperating with the client could also act as a qualitative research worker by documenting intervention and their success or its lack with this person. Observation of one client and interviews with him - and possibly with people closely involved in the life of the patient - could provide rich and detailed data required from qualitative stages.