Explore – Smartphone-based Activities: Put your investigative skills to the test with these quick interactive activities. Dig deeper into key concepts and understand how they might relate to your own research project via guided website searches and online discussion questions.

12.1 The question of sample size

Go to Google Scholar or your university’s online journal library and select three qualitative studies that use interview methods. Compare their sample sizes. What do you notice about them? If you want to learn more about the concept of minimum sample size in qualitative research, check out Watch 12.1.

Knowing what you know now about sample sizes in qualitative research, how would you respond to Neil’s concerns?