How Significant Sampling Is to the Achievement of Representative Findings - Essay Example

Sampling College: Introduction Understanding the particular research method applied in research is key to rational findings. A successful study is purely embedded on and informed by proper understanding of a particular method (Ellis 2010, p. 43). The two qualitative researches conducted were very significant to inform the nurse and midwife practices (Aveyard 2013, p. 56). This is because understanding care and compassion as provided for by Dorothy and Ross help both new qualified staff nurse to develop an outstanding insight into care provision. To amplify this further, understanding the nurse perception of compassionate care besides factors fueling and inhibiting its delivery is fundamental in nursing practice. With respect to Heffernan et al, “Self-Compassion and Emotional Intelligence in Nurse”, fathoming the emotions of patients that are cared for by the nurses is a key in health care delivery (Horsburgh & Ross 2013, p. 1126). The sufferings and variations of emotions of patients is a principle to fuel and facilitate care delivery (Czaja & Blair 1996, p. 69). In this essay I will showcase how significant sampling is to the achievement of valid and representative findings to a particular study. To validate the reason for settling to compare and contrast the sampling, the researcher explains the purpose of sampling: Sampling provides a range of statistical information of a qualitative research (as per this context) about the whole population by evaluating a few units selected. Sampling method is thus the scientific mechanism of choosing the sampling entries which provides the necessary estimates with associated margins of uncertainty resulting from evaluating only a portion and not a whole. To further amplifies the reason for selecting sampling, a population will always be big and hence it becomes difficult both in terms of time and cost, data analysis as well as its communication to stakeholders, sampling thus becomes valid to help represents population based on few selected units (participants) This therefore means that a flawed sample will lead to non-representation or biasness in participant’s selection. It is therefore, fundamental to critically and carefully ensure a clear representation of the population under study based on the effectiveness of sampling method employed. The issue to be dealt with respect to the same will be sample size, advantage and disadvantage of sample and types of sample used. Compare and Contrast the Element of the Method Sampling Method (Types) Used It is noted that the two qualitative researches have employed the non-probability sampling (Convenience-IJNP and Purposive-JNC) types in gathering determining the participants. In the discussion, the researcher compares how sampling has been executed in the two researches. With respect to the Internal Journal of Nursing Practice (IJNP), the convenience sampling method (it is applicable in exploratory research where the researcher gathers an inexpensive approximation of truth and selection is done since they are convenient) was used to gather data through an online survey capturing 350 (RNs and nurse managers) as the sample size used as a representation of the population under study. The participation rate was very low based on the recruitment procedure via flyers requesting nurses that had access to internal online websites to complete the questionnaire (Heffernan, Quinn, MT, McNulty, Fitzpatrick, 2010, p. 369). Only 143 participants (less than half of sample size) filled the questionnaires and after data cleaning only 135 entries were used based on the fully completed questionnaires. On the other hand, with respect to Journal of Clinical Nursing (JNC) by Dorothy and Janis, purposive sampling (Judgmental sampling) was employed to recruit participants (focus group with n=6 leading to a total number of 42 participants). This method of sampling calls for selection of participants based on the researcher’s own judgment. Participants were drawn from one ‘representative’ one year registered nurses despite the fact that there were other experienced nurses. This sampling method assumed that all the new staff nurses within one year work experience stood a better chance to provide data required. The different in the methods used here was the fact that in the JNC study, there was no differentiation as therefore recruitment of participants never called for variations in the participants unlike the IJNP study where differentiation was considered and gave an in-depth data and variation which fueled the uncovering of similarities and differences amongst particular location of practice, that is, acute care, community care and care for people with enduring conditions. The similarity noted in the sampling methods used here is the element of non-probabilistic sampling methods (JNC used purposive and IJNP used convenience). Advantages and Disadvantages of Sampling Methods (Types) Used Advantages The advantage of purposive sampling method as applied with by Dorothy and Janis study, JNC is that one representative is taken as a whole and reduced the chances of biasness. All the one year registered nurses were viewed as potential participants and thus no differentiations was called for. The data gathered was thus valid and acted as representation of the whole population (all the one year qualified nurse staffs). On the other hand, IJNP employed the use of convenience sampling method which was importance and beneficial due to the fact that it is both cost and time saving in gathering the required data. The participants selected is based on the convenience and it help showcase the features of the whole population within a short time frame at least costs. It is applicable and relevant method during the preliminary research efforts to obtain gross estimates of the outcomes with minimum cost and/ or time required for selection of a random sample. Disadvantages Both sampling methods used (Purposive and Convenience) sampling method may be deceiving at times since it they are non-probabilistic. With respect to convenience (IJNP) method, biasness could have been an inevitability as it was noted that most participants were whites (56.72%) and at the same time being females. This presents a platform for non-representation of the whole population. Males and other races were therefore discriminated against by the convenience method locking out valuable data (Hammersley 2012, p. 78). Whilst applying the judgment sampling method, the researcher must be confident that whatever the sample size chosen will depict the features of a whole population under study otherwise deception crops in leading to in validation of the results. In both the sampling methods used, it is a disadvantageous since calculation of sampling error is impossible and hence the researcher cannot tell the degree of deviations of the calculated estimates to the real population characteristics since they are both non-probability sampling methods. Another disadvantages to the non-probability sampling used here is the fact that generalization is only confined to within sample frame and not population and that the accuracy of the sample is determined by sample size and not ratio of sample to population. How large a Sample should be, (Sample Size) The sample size determines the accuracy of the selected sample and therefore determination of a given sample size is key to qualitative research. Determination of the required sample size is pegged at three principle factors; magnitude of sampling error acceptable, cost of data collection and amount of variability in the independent variable. The general rule is that as sample size rises, sampling error reduces (good) but subjected to more cost hence a trade-off between sampling error and cost of research (Curtis & Drennan 2013, p. 67). With respect to the INJC study, the selected sample size was 350 and the JNC had 42 as its sample size. With respect to the purposive sampling, the sample size is required to be as small as possible. In addition to its smallness in size, the subjects chosen should portray solely required variability as per the study objectives. The participants are chosen for a good reason and should be tied to purpose of the research. Small sample less than 30 is needed so as to be not large enough for probabilistic powers. The purposive sampling size is applicable and relevant where it is hard-to-get populations that cannot be accessed through general population screening. With respect to Convenience Sampling Size as applied in INJC, the selection of subjects is informed by ease of accessibility with no reason tied to research purpose. In this study, the sample size was 350 participants (RNs and Managers). Since the differentiation (heterogeneity) was required, there was need for large sample to diversify the population study. A large sample was needed to minimize sample error (desired precision) (Cohen 1988, p. 78). The convenience method employs cluster sampling design and thus required larger sample (350 greater than 42 used in JNC). The convenience sampling method called for complex multivariate statistics and hence reason behind its larger sample size. Conclusion Sampling is significant in any rational research carried out. The sampling size determines the accuracy of the results, but it is constrained by cost of data collection. In the two studies, non-probability sampling methods (convenience and purposive) were used both to save cost and time. The disadvantages noted were that such methods cannot be used to generalize beyond the sample and hence may do not portray the population characteristics. The principle advantages of the two methods is that gross they enabled the researchers to obtain the preliminary gross features of the selected samples (Bowling 2009, p. 45). 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