The Ultimate Guide to Purposive Understand Sampling Techniques

Working on a research paper, but have no idea about purposive sampling? And have no idea how to learn it? So, do not worry! In this blog, you will find out the meaning of purposive sampling in research, the principles of using it, the pros and cons, and more. So, let's begin by first understanding the meaning of it.

What is Purposive Sampling? And When to Use it:

Purposive sampling is a technique used by researchers for selecting units which match the characteristics or fill the criteria that are needed for your sample. It is used in the qualitative research process which allows users to focus on specific areas of interest and gather data after analyzing thoroughly. It is the best option if you have background information on your research topic. The other name for this type of research is judgemental sampling or selective sampling. So, for using this technique, it is always suggested to have a good amount of knowledge of the topic you are working on. However, for applying this sampling, you need to know when to use it because it cannot be applied in every situation. So, read the below-mentioned pointers to know:  

• When the number of samples is small.
• Use it when you are working on a specific subgroup.
• To investigate a rare or unusual phenomenon.

It is crucial to understand that the purposive sampling technique cannot be used for all research studies. So, use it cautiously and remember the results of it cannot be generalized to the larger population. However, if you still have any confusion about when to use it, so do not worry! The next section covers all the principles to use it, which will make it clearer for you. 

Principles of Using Purposive Sampling Strategy

There are a few crucial principles of purposive sampling that you should consider when using this technique for your research:

Clearly Defined Aim: 

The aim of the study should be clear in your mind, and the sample should be picked based on the characteristics that you are interested in investigating. 

Representative Sample: 

Your samples should represent the attributes of the research you are conducting.

Bias: 

Biasedness can play a huge role in impacting the results when other than random sampling is used, so be aware to avoid any potential bias.

Expertise:

Having good knowledge of the theme being studied is crucial in the sampling section. Without knowing the characteristics of the units, you can make mistakes, so it is essential to have good knowledge of the topic. 

So, these were the principles to use purposive sampling for your paper. However, if you still have any issue, you can seek help from experts. Moreover, they can provide you service such as custom writing, so you can ask them to use this technique in your paper.

Examples of Purposive Sampling Method 

There are six types of purposive sampling in qualitative research that you can use for your research study. But it depends on the objective of your research, so let's study all the methods of research with their examples. 

Maximum Variation Sampling

Maximum variation sampling is also known as heterogeneous sampling. You can apply this when you have samples of units which show a maximum range of variation within their attributes. For maximum variations, you should include cases and events that are considered average and that are more extreme in nature.

For instance, Investigate the influence of a career counselling program on college students' career choices. In this case, the sample would be choosing students from different colleges and different academic streams. So, using a broad variation of samples will help in getting diverse results.

Homogeneous Sampling 

Homogeneous sampling is used when you are studying and analyzing a particular subgroup in depth. In this sampling, you select units which share similar attributes. It is often used for selecting focus group participants.

For instance, research is done to understand the experiences of long-term employees in a popular industry. Analyse the employees who have been working for more than 5+ years of will get you insights related to work-related stress, coping mechanisms, and ways to deal with it.

Typical Case Sampling

It is used for showcasing a normal or average phenomenon to those who are unaware of it. This sampling aims to illustrate a phenomenon.

For instance, Analyse experiences of immigrant college students adapting to a new country and university life. Use surveys or interviews to understand the challenges faced by them. Remember, the aim of this research is to illustrate this phenomenon to those who are unaware of it.

Extreme Case Sampling

This sampling aims to illuminate unusual or special phenomena. It involves outstanding results or failures. This form of sampling is also called deviant case sampling.

For instance, Investigate the impact of educational interventions on academic performance. In this case, pick two schools that represent extremes in terms of academic achievement. It will help you in comprehending factors which influence the variation in the results. 

Critical Case Sampling 

Critical case sampling is used in a single or small number of samples that can be used for similar cases. In simple words, if one thinks something is right, it can be true for all the other similar studies. 

For instance, Investigate the effectiveness of a community-based health program which aims to reduce the spread of a virus. In this sampling, your samples will be two communities: one where the program has succeeded and another where the program has failed. It will help you in identifying the reasons contributing to success and failure. If you want to read more health-based examples or need guidance with your paper, you can seek biology assignment help.

Expert Sampling  

This type of sampling is done when your research requires individuals with a high level of knowledge about a specific topic. It is useful when there is a lack of evidence when researching a new area.

For instance, Study the influence of emerging technologies on the future of AI in the health sector. So, in this case, your samples would be individuals with expertise in AI and healthcare.

So, this section covered all six types and purposive sampling examples. Knowing all the six types of sampling methods is crucial because each needs different situations and factors to use it. Moreover, each type of sampling has its pros and cons which we are going to discuss in the next section.  

Advantages and Disadvantages of Purposive Sampling

By reading the above section, you must have understood the different types of purposive sampling. So, after knowing the types of sampling, it's time to cover the purposive sampling advantages and disadvantages. There are several pros and cons of purposive sampling which we are going to cover in this section, so let's first begin with advantages. 

Advantages of Purposive Sampling

In this section, we are going to cover the benefits of purposive sampling:

Representative Sample: It allows the researchers to select a sample highly representative of the characteristics they are interested in. It can be helpful when you are working on a small or specific subgroup.

In-depth data: It is often used in qualitative research, which allows you to gather data and insights in depth. It can help you find some valuable results for the research question.

Practicality: It is practical and easier to use, especially in small-scale studies.

Cost: It is way cheaper than the other sampling methods, as it has a fixed research process. 

Disadvantages of Purposive Sampling

Like everything has its cons, so does this sampling method have its cons.  Thus, let's discuss the limitations of purposive sampling: 

Limited Generalizability: As the sample is not selected randomly, the study's result may not be applied to a larger population.

Bias: The result of this research can be affected by the researcher's bias. The researcher may pick the units or samples that they expect to give the desired result, which can affect the result of the study.

Sampling error: The difference between the sample and population can happen because the sample is not selected randomly.

Limited Sample Size: Purposive sampling is used in small-scale studies with limited sample sizes. It can affect the statistical results of the study and make it more challenging to identify the differences or relationships. 

Ethical Considerations: The researchers must obtain consent from individuals in the sample to ensure the rights of participants are secured.

Challenges Faced while Using Purposeful Sampling

One of the primary challenges of using this technique is that the results cannot be applied to larger populations. It is because the sample is not selected randomly, so it can not be generalized for the larger groups. It can affect the reliability and impact of the research, which makes it challenging to apply it to a larger population. 

We hope you have understood the challenges of purposive sampling that you needed to know for using this method for your research paper. But, after all this information, if you still face any issues, do not freak out! The next section will tell you how our assignment help team can guide you in non-probability purposive sampling.

Want to Learn to Use Purposive Sampling? Contact us!

Hopefully, the above write-up cleared the air for you related to purposive sampling and how to use it to ease the process of research. So, now you can research for your paper, but the following step is one of the biggest challenges you will face, which is writing. But no need to fear, we are here! Our team of expert writers can assist you in any type of academic task. Moreover, with the quality content, we ensure that the document is plagiarism-free, non-AI written content, and an error-less paper by using our grammar checker. So, what are you waiting for? Contact now to excel in your academics.