Data Analysis and Methods of Qualitative Research by Silas Memory Madondo;

Author:Silas Memory Madondo; [Неизв.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: IGI Global

According to Doherty (1994), there are situations that may provoke the use of snowball sampling procedure in qualitative research projects. The method of selection may be used when the population is hidden. There are some studies that deal with hidden populations and the research team should trace them to the hibernation sites via snowball sampling procedure. Snowball is the proper sampling procedure to use when the population is not accessible.

There are some key steps that should be followed when dealing with snowball sampling. The first step is to identify the initial sample or few samples. Accessing the initial sample or few samples may be tiresome and hectic. Once the initial sample or few samples are identified, those samples (few research subjects) should led the researchers to more samples that are hidden. Every element that participates in the study should recommend new samples. The strategy will continue till the research team gets enough samples for their project.

The other area to consider on snowball is the issue of research ethics. In most cases, the research subject are in hibernation because of privacy and confidential concerns. The research team should give assurance of confidentiality and privacy to the research subjects. In most cases, the process of data gathering should be done underground. The respondents should not be exposed to the public because they may want to remain in private domain. The research team may have face to face discussions with the research subjects in closed environments. This may help them to open up during the period of data gathering. The reciprocity tradition may be extended to the subjects involved in the study. The research team may assist the research subjects with medicine and other medical facilities if the resources are available. However, the research team should avoid spoiling the research subjects. Spoiling them may result in the provision of fake information.

A research team may want to explore the challenges facing people living with HIV in area Z. Most of the HIV victims are in hibernation, they are not comfortable to expose their status because of fear of being segregated. The research team may look for a sample of very few HIV patients. The identified patients will then assist them to identify additional subjects to be part of the study. The research team should give assurance on the respect for privacy and confidentiality. The process of data gathering should be done under closed environments and the respondents should be protected from the public eye. In some cases, if a research team has enough resources, they may help the victims with medical facilities. This will improve the researcher – participant relationship.

It is very difficult for probability sampling procedures to pick samples from hidden populations. Quota sampling can be among the suitable methods that can be used to access a population that is in hibernation. It is therefore mandatory for researchers to note that confidentiality and privacy rules should be handled with care when dealing with a population that is in hibernation. The processes of data

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