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标题：Sample Size and Saturation in PhD Studies Using Qualitative Interviews
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作者：Mark Mason
期刊名称：Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung / Forum: Qualitative Social Research
印刷版ISSN：1438-5627
出版年度：2010
卷号：11
期号：3
语种：English
出版社：Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung / Forum: Qualitative Social Research
摘要：A number of issues can affect sample size in qualitative research; however, the guiding principle should be the concept of saturation. This has been explored in detail by a number of authors but is still hotly debated, and some say little understood. A sample of PhD studies using qualitative approaches, and qualitative interviews as the method of data collection was taken from theses.com and contents analysed for their sample sizes. Five hundred and sixty studies were identified that fitted the inclusion criteria. Results showed that the mean sample size was 31; however, the distribution was non-random, with a statistically significant proportion of studies, presenting sample sizes that were multiples of ten. These results are discussed in relation to saturation. They suggest a pre-meditated approach that is not wholly congruent with the principles of qualitative research. URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs100387
其他摘要：A number of issues can affect sample size in qualitative research; however, the guiding principle should be the concept of saturation. This has been explored in detail by a number of authors but is still hotly debated, and some say little understood. A sample of PhD studies using qualitative approaches, and qualitative interviews as the method of data collection was taken from theses.com and contents analysed for their sample sizes. Five hundred and sixty studies were identified that fitted the inclusion criteria. Results showed that the mean sample size was 31; however, the distribution was non-random, with a statistically significant proportion of studies, presenting sample sizes that were multiples of ten. These results are discussed in relation to saturation. They suggest a pre-meditated approach that is not wholly congruent with the principles of qualitative research. URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs100387
关键词：saturation;sample size;interviews size; personal interviews.;saturación;tamaño de la muestra;entrevistas;Sättigung;Sampling;Interviews
其他关键词：Research methods,;saturation; sample size; interviews size, personal interviews.