2/6/23, 1:54 AM Sample Size- What should be the sample size if a mixed approach is used?

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Mohammed Owais Qureshi

UNSW Sydney
Sample Size- What should be the sample size if a mixed approach is used?
Question
Asked June 6, 2017
Sample Size- What should be the sample size if a mixed method approach is used, in order to
check the level of healthcare awareness amongst employees. 
1) Questionnaire survey
2) Qualitative interviews
3) Focus groups
Answer this question
Quantitative Social Research Qualitative Social Research Questionnaire Design Healthy Worker Effect

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Popular Answers (2)

Jorge Cruz-Cárdenas added an answer June 6, 2017
Dear Mohammed
Mixed methods studies combine qualitative and quantitative components to produce a whole
that is superior to the parts. As for the size of the samples, you should be guided by the
guidelines that exist for qualitative and quantitative methods. I suggest the following:
Focus group: From 6 to 12 participants per group. At least 2 groups. The ideal is to continue
performing groups until saturation, ie until no new interesting information emerges.
Qualitative interviews: Plan at least 12 or 15 interviews. Conduct more interviews until reaching
saturation point, ie until new themes or categories no longer appear.
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2/6/23, 1:54 AM Sample Size- What should be the sample size if a mixed approach is used? | ResearchGate

Questionnaire survey: If you want your sample to be representative of the study population
(employees), you should calculate the size with the corresponding formula and perhaps readjust
it by finite population. Then make a random selection of individuals. Additionally, you should
consider the statistical analysis to be performed. Multivariate models require larger samples. A
large number of studies use samples between 300 and 500 individuals.
It is important that you be clear about your design of mixed methods. If it is exploratory,
sequential, mixed methods approach, you must begin with the qualitative phase and in the
quantitative stage test the hypotheses.
Good luck in your research.
Jorge
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Ismail Nizam added an answer June 8, 2017
There certain rules developed by scholars in determining sample size. For quantitative studies,
Hair et all., (2010) suggest a rule of thumb of 10 samples per every measurement variable. For
example, if your questionnaire has 25 measurement variables, then the sample size should be
250. This book is an excellent reference for quantitative research.
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All Answers (19)

Abid Shahzad added an answer February 8, 2020
in case sir explanatory sequential design, what should be sample size for 2nd phase?
Suppose, we had n=400 in first phase, so in second phase what would be the logically
accepted sample size?@ Jorge Cruz-Cárdenas
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Gargi Sharma Thapaliya added an answer December 12, 2020
I am quite interested to read the book referred by @ Ismail Nizam . Could you please
give me the link of book or the complete book name.
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Chinchu C Mullanvathukkal added an answer December 12, 2020
https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/facpubs/2925/
I believe this is the book cited as Hair et al., 2010
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