<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> <html> <head> <title>UTas ePrints - What have sampling and data collection got to do with good qualitative research?</title> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/javascript/auto.js"><!-- padder --></script> <style type="text/css" media="screen">@import url(http://eprints.utas.edu.au/style/auto.css);</style> <style type="text/css" media="print">@import url(http://eprints.utas.edu.au/style/print.css);</style> <link rel="icon" href="/images/eprints/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon" /> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/images/eprints/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon" /> <link rel="Top" href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/" /> <link rel="Search" href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/cgi/search" /> <meta content="Gibbs, Lisa" name="eprints.creators_name" /> <meta content="Kealy, Michelle" name="eprints.creators_name" /> <meta content="Willis, Karen" name="eprints.creators_name" /> <meta content="Green, Julie" name="eprints.creators_name" /> <meta content="Welch, Nicky" name="eprints.creators_name" /> <meta content="Daly, Jeanne" name="eprints.creators_name" /> <meta content="lgibbs@unimelb.edu.au" name="eprints.creators_id" /> <meta content="" name="eprints.creators_id" /> <meta content="K.Willis@utas.edu.au" name="eprints.creators_id" /> <meta content="" name="eprints.creators_id" /> <meta content="" name="eprints.creators_id" /> <meta content="" name="eprints.creators_id" /> <meta content="article" name="eprints.type" /> <meta content="2007-12-13 04:35:43" name="eprints.datestamp" /> <meta content="2008-01-08 15:30:00" name="eprints.lastmod" /> <meta content="show" name="eprints.metadata_visibility" /> <meta content="What have sampling and data collection got to do with good qualitative research?" name="eprints.title" /> <meta content="pub" name="eprints.ispublished" /> <meta content="321200" name="eprints.subjects" /> <meta content="370000" name="eprints.subjects" /> <meta content="public" name="eprints.full_text_status" /> <meta content="Qualitative research; methods; evidence; interviews." name="eprints.keywords" /> <meta content=""The definitive version is available at www.blackwell-synergy.com" " name="eprints.note" /> <meta content="Objective: To highlight the importance of sampling and data collection processes in qualitative interview studies, and to discuss the contribution of these processes to determining the strength of the evidence generated and thereby to decisions for public health practice and policy. Approach: This discussion is informed by a hierarchy-of-evidence-for-practice model. The paper provides succinct guidelines for key sampling and data collection considerations in qualitative research involving interview studies. The importance of allowing time for immersion in a given community to become familiar with the context and population is discussed, as well as the practical constraints that sometimes operate against this stage. The role of theory in guiding sample selection is discussed both in terms of identifying likely sources of rich data and in understanding the issues emerging from the data. It is noted that sampling further assists in confirming the developing evidence and also illuminates data that does not seem to fit. The importance of reporting sampling and data collection processes is highlighted clearly to enable others to assess both the strength of the evidence and the broader applications of the findings. Conclusion: Sampling and data collection processes are critical to determining the quality of a study and the generalisability of the findings. We argue that these processes should operate within the parameters of the research goal, be guided by emerging theoretical considerations, cover a range of relevant participant perspectives, and be clearly outlined in research reports with an explanation of any research limitations. Keywords: Qualitative" name="eprints.abstract" /> <meta content="2007" name="eprints.date" /> <meta content="published" name="eprints.date_type" /> <meta content="Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health" name="eprints.publication" /> <meta content="31" name="eprints.volume" /> <meta content="6" name="eprints.number" /> <meta content="540-544" name="eprints.pagerange" /> <meta content="10.1111/j.1753-6405.2007.00140.x" name="eprints.id_number" /> <meta content="TRUE" name="eprints.refereed" /> <meta content="1326-0200" name="eprints.issn" /> <meta content="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1753-6405.2007.00140.x" name="eprints.official_url" /> <meta content=" Willis K, Daly J, Kealy M, Small R, et al. The essential role of social theory in qualitative public health research. Aust N Z J Public Health. 2007;31(5):438- 43. 2. Green J, Willis K, Hughes E, Small R, et al. Generating best evidence from qualitative research: the role of data analysis. Aust N Z J Public Health. 2007;31(6):545-50. 3. Daly J, Willis K, Small R, Green J, et al. Assessing qualitative research in health – a hierarchy of evidence-for-practice. J Clin Epidemiol. 2007;60(1):43-9. 4. Daly J, Lumley J. Dilemmas in publishing qualitative public health research. Aust N Z J Public Health. 2007;31(3):203-4. 5. Booth T, Booth W. The use of depth interviewing with vulnerable subjects: lessons from a research study of parents with learning difficulties. Soc Sci Med. 1994;39(3):415-24. 6. Pyett P. Researching with sex workers: a privilege and a challenge. In: Elias JE, Bullough VL, Elias V, Brewer G, editors. Prostitution: On Whores, Hustlers, and Johns. New York (NY): Prometheus Books; 1998. p. 368-75. 7. Galloway R, Dusch E, Elder L, Achadi E, et al. Women’s perceptions of iron deficiency and anemia prevention and control in eight developing countries. Soc Sci Med. 2002;55(4):529-44. 8. Tuckett A. Qualitative research sampling: the very real complexities. Nurse Res. 2004;12(1):47-61. 9. Fleming V. Hysterectomy: a case study of one woman’s experience. J Adv Nurs. 2003;44(6):575-82. 10. Scott JT, Rundall TG, Vogt TM, Hsu J. Kaiser Permanente’s experience of implementing an electronic medical record: a qualitative study. Br Med J. 2005;331:1313-16. 11. Gabbay J, le May A. Evidence based guidelines or collectively construed ‘mindlines’? Ethnographic study of knowledge management in primary care. Br Med J. 2004;329:1013-16. 12. Polanyi M. The Tacit Dimension. London (UK): Routledge; 1967. 13. Charmaz K. The body, identity and self: adapting to impairment. The Sociological Quarterly. 1995;36(4):657-80. 14. Warr D. Social networks in a ‘discredited’ neighbourhood. Journal of Sociology. 2005;41(3):285-308." name="eprints.referencetext" /> <meta content="Gibbs, Lisa and Kealy, Michelle and Willis, Karen and Green, Julie and Welch, Nicky and Daly, Jeanne (2007) What have sampling and data collection got to do with good qualitative research? Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 31 (6). pp. 540-544. ISSN 1326-0200" name="eprints.citation" /> <meta content="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/2672/1/Gibbs_et_al_Sampling_paper_ANZJPH.pdf" name="eprints.document_url" /> <link rel="schema.DC" href="http://purl.org/DC/elements/1.0/" /> <meta content="What have sampling and data collection got to do with good qualitative research?" name="DC.title" /> <meta content="Gibbs, Lisa" name="DC.creator" /> <meta content="Kealy, Michelle" name="DC.creator" /> <meta content="Willis, Karen" name="DC.creator" /> <meta content="Green, Julie" name="DC.creator" /> <meta content="Welch, Nicky" name="DC.creator" /> <meta content="Daly, Jeanne" name="DC.creator" /> <meta content="321200 Public Health and Health Services" name="DC.subject" /> <meta content="370000 Studies in Human Society" name="DC.subject" /> <meta content="Objective: To highlight the importance of sampling and data collection processes in qualitative interview studies, and to discuss the contribution of these processes to determining the strength of the evidence generated and thereby to decisions for public health practice and policy. Approach: This discussion is informed by a hierarchy-of-evidence-for-practice model. The paper provides succinct guidelines for key sampling and data collection considerations in qualitative research involving interview studies. The importance of allowing time for immersion in a given community to become familiar with the context and population is discussed, as well as the practical constraints that sometimes operate against this stage. The role of theory in guiding sample selection is discussed both in terms of identifying likely sources of rich data and in understanding the issues emerging from the data. It is noted that sampling further assists in confirming the developing evidence and also illuminates data that does not seem to fit. The importance of reporting sampling and data collection processes is highlighted clearly to enable others to assess both the strength of the evidence and the broader applications of the findings. Conclusion: Sampling and data collection processes are critical to determining the quality of a study and the generalisability of the findings. We argue that these processes should operate within the parameters of the research goal, be guided by emerging theoretical considerations, cover a range of relevant participant perspectives, and be clearly outlined in research reports with an explanation of any research limitations. Keywords: Qualitative" name="DC.description" /> <meta content="2007" name="DC.date" /> <meta content="Article" name="DC.type" /> <meta content="PeerReviewed" name="DC.type" /> <meta content="application/pdf" name="DC.format" /> <meta content="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/2672/1/Gibbs_et_al_Sampling_paper_ANZJPH.pdf" name="DC.identifier" /> <meta content="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1753-6405.2007.00140.x" name="DC.relation" /> <meta content="Gibbs, Lisa and Kealy, Michelle and Willis, Karen and Green, Julie and Welch, Nicky and Daly, Jeanne (2007) What have sampling and data collection got to do with good qualitative research? Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 31 (6). pp. 540-544. 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style="margin-bottom: 1em" class="not_ep_block"><span class="person_name">Gibbs, Lisa</span> and <span class="person_name">Kealy, Michelle</span> and <span class="person_name">Willis, Karen</span> and <span class="person_name">Green, Julie</span> and <span class="person_name">Welch, Nicky</span> and <span class="person_name">Daly, Jeanne</span> (2007) <xhtml:em>What have sampling and data collection got to do with good qualitative research?</xhtml:em> Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 31 (6). pp. 540-544. ISSN 1326-0200</p><p style="margin-bottom: 1em" class="not_ep_block"></p><table style="margin-bottom: 1em" class="not_ep_block"><tr><td valign="top" style="text-align:center"><a onmouseover="EPJS_ShowPreview( event, 'doc_preview_3530' );" href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/2672/1/Gibbs_et_al_Sampling_paper_ANZJPH.pdf" onmouseout="EPJS_HidePreview( event, 'doc_preview_3530' );"><img alt="[img]" src="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/style/images/fileicons/application_pdf.png" class="ep_doc_icon" border="0" /></a><div class="ep_preview" id="doc_preview_3530"><table><tr><td><img alt="" src="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/2672/thumbnails/1/preview.png" class="ep_preview_image" border="0" /><div class="ep_preview_title">Preview</div></td></tr></table></div></td><td valign="top"><a href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/2672/1/Gibbs_et_al_Sampling_paper_ANZJPH.pdf"><span class="ep_document_citation">PDF</span></a> - Requires a PDF viewer<br />156Kb</td></tr></table><p style="margin-bottom: 1em" class="not_ep_block">Official URL: <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1753-6405.2007.00140.x">http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1753-6405.2007.00140.x</a></p><div class="not_ep_block"><h2>Abstract</h2><p style="padding-bottom: 16px; text-align: left; margin: 1em auto 0em auto">Objective: To highlight the importance of sampling and data collection processes in qualitative interview studies, and to discuss the contribution of these processes to determining the strength of the evidence generated and thereby to decisions for public health practice and policy. Approach: This discussion is informed by a hierarchy-of-evidence-for-practice model. The paper provides succinct guidelines for key sampling and data collection considerations in qualitative research involving interview studies. The importance of allowing time for immersion in a given community to become familiar with the context and population is discussed, as well as the practical constraints that sometimes operate against this stage. The role of theory in guiding sample selection is discussed both in terms of identifying likely sources of rich data and in understanding the issues emerging from the data. It is noted that sampling further assists in confirming the developing evidence and also illuminates data that does not seem to fit. The importance of reporting sampling and data collection processes is highlighted clearly to enable others to assess both the strength of the evidence and the broader applications of the findings. Conclusion: Sampling and data collection processes are critical to determining the quality of a study and the generalisability of the findings. We argue that these processes should operate within the parameters of the research goal, be guided by emerging theoretical considerations, cover a range of relevant participant perspectives, and be clearly outlined in research reports with an explanation of any research limitations. Keywords: Qualitative</p></div><table style="margin-bottom: 1em" cellpadding="3" class="not_ep_block" border="0"><tr><th valign="top" class="ep_row">Item Type:</th><td valign="top" class="ep_row">Article</td></tr><tr><th valign="top" class="ep_row">Additional Information:</th><td valign="top" class="ep_row">"The definitive version is available at www.blackwell-synergy.com" </td></tr><tr><th valign="top" class="ep_row">Keywords:</th><td valign="top" class="ep_row">Qualitative research; methods; evidence; interviews.</td></tr><tr><th valign="top" class="ep_row">Subjects:</th><td valign="top" class="ep_row"><a href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/view/subjects/321200.html">320000 Medical and Health Sciences > 321200 Public Health and Health Services</a><br /><a href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/view/subjects/370000.html">370000 Studies in Human Society</a></td></tr><tr><th valign="top" class="ep_row">ID Code:</th><td valign="top" class="ep_row">2672</td></tr><tr><th valign="top" class="ep_row">Deposited By:</th><td valign="top" class="ep_row"><span class="ep_name_citation"><span class="person_name">Dr Karen Willis</span></span></td></tr><tr><th valign="top" class="ep_row">Deposited On:</th><td valign="top" class="ep_row">13 Dec 2007 15:35</td></tr><tr><th valign="top" class="ep_row">Last Modified:</th><td valign="top" class="ep_row">09 Jan 2008 02:30</td></tr><tr><th valign="top" class="ep_row">ePrint Statistics:</th><td valign="top" class="ep_row"><a target="ePrintStats" href="/es/index.php?action=show_detail_eprint;id=2672;">View statistics for this ePrint</a></td></tr></table><p align="right">Repository Staff Only: <a href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/cgi/users/home?screen=EPrint::View&eprintid=2672">item control page</a></p> </td></tr></table> </div> <!-- InstanceEndEditable --></td> </tr> <tr> <td><!-- #BeginLibraryItem "/Library/footer_eprints.lbi" --> <table width="795" border="0" align="left" cellpadding="0" class="footer"> <tr valign="top"> <td colspan="2"><div align="center"><a href="http://www.utas.edu.au">UTAS home</a> | <a href="http://www.utas.edu.au/library/">Library home</a> | <a href="/">ePrints home</a> | <a href="/contact.html">contact</a> | <a href="/information.html">about</a> | <a href="/view/">browse</a> | <a href="/perl/search/simple">search</a> | <a href="/perl/register">register</a> | <a href="/perl/users/home">user area</a> | <a href="/help/">help</a></div><br /></td> </tr> <tr><td colspan="2"><p><img src="/images/eprints/footerline.gif" width="100%" height="4" /></p></td></tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="68%" class="footer">Authorised by the University Librarian<br /> © University of Tasmania ABN 30 764 374 782<br /> <a href="http://www.utas.edu.au/cricos/">CRICOS Provider Code 00586B</a> | <a href="http://www.utas.edu.au/copyright/copyright_disclaimers.html">Copyright & Disclaimers</a> | <a href="http://www.utas.edu.au/accessibility/index.html">Accessibility</a> | <a href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/feedback/">Site Feedback</a> </td> <td width="32%"><div align="right"> <p align="right" class="NoPrint"><a href="http://www.utas.edu.au/"><img src="http://www.utas.edu.au/shared/logos/unioftasstrip.gif" alt="University of Tasmania Home Page" width="260" height="16" border="0" align="right" /></a></p> <p align="right" class="NoPrint"><a href="http://www.utas.edu.au/"><br /> </a></p> </div></td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td><p> </p></td> <td><div align="right"><span class="NoPrint"><a href="http://www.eprints.org/software/"><img src="/images/eprintslogo.gif" alt="ePrints logo" width="77" height="29" border="0" align="bottom" /></a></span></div></td> </tr> </table> <!-- #EndLibraryItem --> <div align="center"></div></td> </tr> </table> </body> </html>