10.1

 Probability sampling method  related to statistical probability and representatives ◦ Most rigorous ◦ Inferential statistical tests ◦ Samples are randomly selected

 Non-probability sampling method ◦ Smaller sample numbers ◦ Do not focus on statistical representation ◦ Sample represents important characteristics of population ◦ Number of different sampling procedures with prescribed selection criteria  Purposive  Convenience  snowball

 Selects a particular group of people  Criteria based on the purpose of the research ◦ Socio-economic characteristics ◦ Specific experiences (childhood abuse) ◦ Occupation ◦ Social roles (mother) ◦ Age, gender

 Used for quick research to address a problem  Can be the only way to study a specific population ◦ Homeless women, illegal immigrants  Issues ◦ Biases ◦ Controlled with objective criteria clearly documented and explained

 Researcher asks participants in study to recommend other participants ◦ Used with hidden populations (homeless) ◦ Cost-efficient, not advertising cost ◦ Very difficult to avoid bias in the sample because participants know each other

 Review of chapter 1.2  Selects a group of participants who happen to be available (university students)  Can be followed over time

 Humans are not passive  Research is an active process  To decrease participant bias we must ◦ Reflect and interrogate the  Data  the participant  research context ◦ If participant feels they have to behave in a certain way it impacts the value of the data they provide

 Occurs if the researcher is not paying attention to the participants so that it is their beliefs that determine the research process  “reality” is multiple and co-constructed  Participants who interpret the same data as researcher will not necessarily come to the same conclusions  Avoidance requires reflexivity throughout the research process

 Similar to internal validity in quantitative  Trustworthiness ◦ Findings reflect the meanings as they are described by the participants ◦ Researchers should make their reflections and decisions transparent and easily scrutinized ◦ No objective criteria but it exists if the reader judges it to be so (Rolfe, 2006)  Peer reviews- required for the establishment of trustworthiness and credibility

 Cross-checking of information and conclusions  If there is agreement between sources there is support (corroboration) of the interpretation of the data  Different perspectives, methods, sources

 Method ◦ Compares data from two different methods- qualitative and quantitative  Data ◦ Compares data from other sources  Observations and interviews  Researcher ◦ Several observers, interviewers, or researchers  Theory ◦ Looking at data from different theoretical perspectives

 Qualitative research is based on subjective interpretations of the world ◦ It is not possible to establish predetermined, distinct criteria of trustworthiness and credibility

 Assumption that it is important that the researcher be aware of their contribution to the construction of meaning in the research process ◦ Occurs throughout research ◦ Look for areas of potential bias

 Reflect on researchers values, beliefs, experiences, interests, political commitments  How does research affect research personally and professionally  Discuss the ethical considerations on qualitative research

 Thinking about how the knowledge was generated  Did research question limit what could be found  Is the design or analysis bias  Would a different “lens” come to different conclusions

 Explain why reflexivity is seen to be important in qualitative research?  What is the main difference in the qualitative researchers’ role in the natural sciences?