Critique of a Sampling Technique

Critique of a Sampling Technique

The Sampling Plan Used and a Different Sampling Plan that would have been Better

In the study, a purposive sampling technique as utilized. Purposive sampling is a non-probability sampling plan adopted by the researchers when not interested in the selection of a sample that is representative of the population (Etikan & Bala, 2017).  Purposive sampling technique is usually used in qualitative research studies. The plan is critical in collecting in-depth information concerning particular issues rather than making generalized conclusions. In the focused research article, however, usage of a different sampling plan would have been better. A stratified sampling technique would be useful in this study.

Applying multi-stage sampling would have been useful in this study. The plan involves using a purposive sampling of participants in the first stage. Stratified sampling in step two and simple random sampling in the final stage. Stratified sampling is a probability sampling method that entails division of the sampling frame into smaller sub-samples, thus enabling selection of the variable aspects of each subgroup (Elfil & Negida, 2017). The sampling plan prompts the sub-division of the homogenous population into sub-divisions.

How might you change the sampling plan to make this study more culturally diverse? What are the ethical considerations that impact sampling and subject diversity?

I would alter the sampling plan by identifying and selecting the sample of participants for the family medicine groups (FMGs) (patients with multimorbidity from the pragmatic trial, healthcare professionals, and carers who would participate in the intervention) using purposive sampling in the first stage.  In stage two, stratified sampling will necessitate grouping them into different ethnic groups and ecological groups for purposes of ensuring that the participants are representatives of various cultures or belong to a variety of ethnic backgrounds in the specified location. Once the units are selected in strata, as a researcher, you apply random sampling to obtain the actual sample of participants, thus making the study more culturally diverse.

The ethical considerations that influence sampling and subject diversity in a study included, but not limited to, obtaining informed consent, asking for permission to perform from the potential participants for voluntary participation, confidentiality, and anonymity, and ensuring no harm for the sample unit (Swain, 2016). A researcher ought to consider such elements as a step of protecting the rights of the sample population, including acknowledging that respondents have the right to refuse to participate in the study. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/hex.13035

https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.13035

References

Elfil, M., & Negida, A. (2017). Sampling methods in clinical research; an educational review. Emergency, 5(1).

Etikan, I., & Bala, K. (2017). Sampling and sampling methods. Biometrics & Biostatistics International Journal, 5(6), 00149.

Swain, J. (2016). Ethical Considerations in Research and Education. SAGE Publications.