Summary
When doing quantitative studies, we usually need a statistically representative sample. The same is often not the case with qualitative studies where we need a sample with variations along the independent variables. The technique described here is simple to use and guarantees variations. A statistically representative sample, on the other hand, if small, often gives few variations. Thus, one could say that the technique presented is a kind of statistically nonrepresentative stratified sampling useful in qualitative studies.
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References
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The author wishes to thank the editors ofQualitiative Sociology for valuable comments and suggestions made on an earlier version of this note.
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Trost, J.E. Statistically nonrepresentative stratified sampling: A sampling technique for qualitative studies. Qual Sociol 9, 54–57 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00988249
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00988249