Sample Size in Qualitative Interview Studies
@article{Malterud2016SampleSI, title={Sample Size in Qualitative Interview Studies}, author={K. Malterud and V. Siersma and A. D. Guassora}, journal={Qualitative Health Research}, year={2016}, volume={26}, pages={1753 - 1760} }
Sample sizes must be ascertained in qualitative studies like in quantitative studies but not by the same means. The prevailing concept for sample size in qualitative studies is “saturation.” Saturation is closely tied to a specific methodology, and the term is inconsistently applied. We propose the concept “information power” to guide adequate sample size for qualitative studies. Information power indicates that the more information the sample holds, relevant for the actual study, the lower… CONTINUE READING
Figures from this paper
Figures
Paper Mentions
Observational Clinical Trial
Present project aims to investigate memories related to a cancer communication diagnosis in
pediatric oncology. It evaluates possible common elements and specificity between family and… Expand
Conditions | Memory |
---|---|
Intervention | Other |
1,505 Citations
Characterising and justifying sample size sufficiency in interview-based studies: systematic analysis of qualitative health research over a 15-year period
- Psychology, Medicine
- BMC Medical Research Methodology
- 2018
- 162
Can sample size in qualitative research be determined a priori?
- Computer Science
- 2018
- 79
- Highly Influenced
- PDF
What Influences Saturation? Estimating Sample Sizes in Focus Group Research
- Medicine, Mathematics
- Qualitative health research
- 2019
- 48
- PDF
Generalizability in Qualitative Research: A Tale of Two Traditions
- Sociology, Medicine
- Qualitative health research
- 2018
- 38
Saturation in qualitative research: exploring its conceptualization and operationalization
- Psychology, Medicine
- Quality & quantity
- 2018
- 1,511
References
SHOWING 1-10 OF 29 REFERENCES
‘Unsatisfactory Saturation’: a critical exploration of the notion of saturated sample sizes in qualitative research
- Sociology
- 2013
- 1,487
What about N? A methodological study of sample-size reporting in focus group studies
- Psychology, Medicine
- BMC medical research methodology
- 2011
- 419
- PDF
“Data Were Saturated . . . ”
- Psychology, Medicine
- Qualitative health research
- 2015
- 323
- Highly Influential
One is the liveliest number: the case orientation of qualitative research.
- Sociology, Medicine
- Research in nursing & health
- 1996
- 162