Sampling and Collecting Qualitative and Quantitative Data

Sampling and Collecting Qualitative and Quantitative Data

Student’s Name

Institution’s Name

Date

Sampling and Collecting Qualitative and Quantitative Data

Introduction

Research normally involves the study of a particular population to establish the cause of a problem or to solve a problem. Normally it is not easy to perform a research on the entire population. In this regard, most researches are based on sampling where a part of the population is selected to represent the entire population. This can be done through probability or non-probability sampling method. This paper evaluates non-probability sampling strategy employed in research process.

Position on Sampling Strategies

The position states that nonprobability sampling represents that best strategy for selecting research participants.

Defending the Position

Non-probability sampling involves the sampling technique in which the sample is selected based on the investigator convenience. It is employed in case the research goal to acquire insights into events, individual, or phenomena and not for population generalization. In this case the research purposefully chooses settings, individuals, or groups settings for the research, that maximize the underlying phenomenon understanding (Onwuegbuzie & Collins, 2007). Normally, the respondents are chosen since they are at the suitable place at the suitable time. Non-probability sampling is mostly employed in clinical or medical research whereby patients that attain the inclusion standards are recruited for the research. This includes a group of patients in a single hospital being treated for a common condition using a certain strategy or treatment approach. This technique makes the research process much easier, less expensive, and eliminates the need to list all elements of the population (Acharya et al., 2013).

Data Collection Method its Strengths and Limitations

There are various data collection methods that can be applied in a research. The selection of the best technique highly depends on whether one is conducting a qualitative or quantitative research technique. The selected data collection method in this case is observation. This involves watching the movements, events, and/or behaviors of the participants without their notice and recording the specific aspect one is researching on. One of the observation strength is that one can easily do a blind or covert research and thus eliminating any bias that could be created by participants for knowing that they are being observed. Observation also does not depend on individual willingness to provide the required information. The main limitations include that the method is prone to observer bias, and also it does not provide extra understanding regarding why people behave on the observed manner (Cdc.gov, 2008).

Potential Ethical Issues

The possible ethical issues in observation arise when covert research is done. In this case, the research is done without participants consent and thus, the research may highly interfere with participants’ privacy and confidentiality. This issue can be addresses by hiding the identity of the participants or any other information that would link the participants with the research. Anonymity can highly be used to preserve the participants’ privacy and confidentiality (Kawulich, 2005).

Relationship between Measurement Reliability and validity in Management

Data reliability refers to the level of outcome consistency in case a similar research was to be conducted again. Validity addresses believability or credibility of a research. It checks on whether the research is genuine or not. Normally, valid research is highly probable to ensure that reliable results are obtained. In management, a research conducted to determine the manager competence can be considered reliable if it is done using the right manner. Meaning, credible methods are employed to collect data and thus, even when the research is repeated maybe by another researcher toward the same subject similar outcome will be obtained (Drost, 2011).

References

Acharya, A. S., Prakash, A., Saxena, P., & Nigam, A. (2013). Sampling: Why and how of it? Indian Journal of Medical Specialties, 4(2), 330-333.

Cdc.gov. (2008). Data collection methods for program evaluation: Observation. Evaluation briefs, 16, 1-2. Retrieved from < https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/evaluation/pdf/brief16.pdf>

Drost, E. A. (2011). Validity and reliability in social science research.  Education Research and Perspectives, 38(1), 105–124.

Kawulich, B. B. (2005). Participant observation as a data collection method. Qualitative Social Research, 6(2). Retrieved from < http://www.qualitative-research.net/index.php/fqs/article/view/466/996>

Onwuegbuzie, A. J., & Collins, K. M. (2007). A typology of mixed methods sampling designs in social science research.  The Qualitative Report, 12(2), 281–316. Retrieved from  http://nsuworks.nova.edu/tqr/vol12/iss2/9