Confused About Theoretical Sampling? Engaging Theoretical Sampling in Diverse Grounded Theory Studies

Abstract

Theoretical sampling is a key procedure for theory building in the grounded theory method. Confusion about how to employ theoretical sampling in grounded theory can exist among researchers who use or who want to use the grounded theory method. We illustrate how we employed theoretical sampling in diverse grounded theory studies and answer key questions about theoretical sampling in grounded theory. We show how theoretical sampling functions in grounded theory and how it differs from sampling for data generation alone. We demonstrate how induction, retroduction, and abduction operate in grounded theory and how memoing drives theoretical sampling in the pursuit of theory. We explicate how theoretical sampling can contextualize data to build concepts and theory. Finally, we show how theoretical sampling in grounded theory operates in secondary analysis to derive theory that goes beyond the original purpose of data collection.

Dependency as Status: Older Adults’ Presentations of Self as Recipients of Care

“…While the concept of dependency as status therefore emerged from and is grounded in our data, we draw on Pierre Bourdieu's and Erving Goffman's concepts and theory to illuminate it. In Grounded Theory (Conlon et al, 2020;Timonen et al, 2018), this is referred to as retroduction-application of existing concepts, knowledge, and theoretical frames to shed light on emergent findings and concepts. We did not set out to conduct the empirical research with the view to interrogating Bourdieu's and Goffman's concepts, let alone to verify them.…”

Edible Biological Resource Use in an Agricultural Heritage System and Its Driving Forces: A Case of the Shuangjiang Mengku Ancient Tea and Culture System

“…In November 2014 and January 2015, we used a survey questionnaire and key informant interviews, which are the most commonly used ethnobotanical survey instruments [52,53], in each of the four natural villages to investigate EBRs and their related use. Additionally, we used theoretical sampling to select interviewees and determine the sample size of each of the four natural villages (it is a commonly used sampling method based on grounded theory) [54]. Furthermore, there are two conditions for judging the theoretical saturation of the information in theoretical sampling.…”

“…Furthermore, there are two conditions for judging the theoretical saturation of the information in theoretical sampling. One is that the possibility of information emergence is very low when continuing the investigation, and the other is that the information obtained is sufficient to carry out analysis and research around the research topic [54,55]. Therefore, we did not preset the sample size at first in the information collection process, but following the expectation of the data's theoretical saturation, we selected the first interviewee with the help of relevant staff.…”

Social Relationships in Nurses’ Caring of Adolescents and Emerging Adults With Life-Limiting Illnesses or Injuries

“…After a few interviews with nurses in the purposive sample, theoretical sampling with snowball technique proceeded concurrently with data collection and analysis until theoretical saturation. Concepts from the emergent data analysis drove theoretical sampling to build on and from preliminary theoretical understanding (Conlon et al, 2020). Theoretical saturation occurred when additional interviews confirmed the dimensions, offering no additional insights or theoretical clarification (Hennink et al, 2017; Morse, 2015).…”