How many? Sampling in qualitative research

Onwuegbuzie and Leech (2007) stress that though qualitative research typically relies on small samples, the sample size is important because it determines the extent to which the researcher can make generalizations. Sample sizes in qualitative research should small enough so that the researcher can extract thick, rich data, but also large enough that saturation (data, theoretical saturation, and informational redundancy) are achieved (Lincoln & Guba, 1985; Onwuegbuzie & Leech, 2007).

Mason (2010) cites Guest, Bunce And Johnson ‘s (2006) finding that only 7 sources provided guidelines for qualitative sample sizes. They are:

Source	Methodology	Sample Size
Morse, J.M. (1994). Designing funded qualitative research. In Norman K. Denzin & Yvonna S. Lincoln (Eds.), Handbook of qualitative research (2nd ed., pp.220-35). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage	Ethnography and ethnoscience	30-50 interviews
Bernard, H.R. (2000). Social research methods. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage	Ethnography and ethnoscience	30-60 interviews
Creswell, J. (1998). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five traditions. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.	Grounded theory	20-30 interviews
Morse (1994)	Grounded theory	30-50 interviews
Cresswell (1998)	Phenomenology	5-25 interviews
Morse (1994)	Phenomenology	At least 6 interviews
Bertaux, D. (1981). From the life-history approach to the transformation of sociological practice. In D. Bertaux (Ed.), Biography and society: The life history approach in the social sciences (pp.29-45). London: Sage.	All qualitative	At lease 15

Sources cited:

Guest, G., Bunce, A., & Johnson, L. (2006). "Howmany interviews are enough? An experiment with data saturation andvariability". Field Methods, 18(1), 59-82.

Lincoln, Y. S., & Guba, E. G. (1985). Naturalistic inquiry. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.

Mason, M. (2010). Sample Size and Saturation in PhD Studies Using Qualitative Interviews. Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung / Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 11(3), Art. 8, http://nbnresolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs100387

Onwuegbuzie, A., & Leech, N. L. (2007). Sampling designs in qualitative research: Making the sampling process more public. The Qualitative Report, 12(2), 238-254. Retrieved [Insert date], from http://www.nova.edu/ssss/QR/QR12-2/onwuegbuzie1.pdf