DELIBERATE OR PURPOSIVE SAMPLING

Sometimes there is no need to generalize the findings of our study. In such a situation we can
focus on getting quality and expert information from key individual who are experts or
experienced in the issue under study. In such a situation, we sample with a purpose in mind.
We have a specific predefined group we are seeking. In this sampling technique, the sample
is selected for some specific reason or purpose; targeting people who reliable for the study
where selecting individuals with rich information for in-depth analysis related to the focal
issue being studied. Purposive sampling is useful when you need to reach a targeted sample
quickly and where sampling for proportion is not a primary concern.

Purposive sampling is adequate because of the following situations:

 When studying past events and only a fraction of relevant of relevant materials is
available or accessible.
 When studying sensitive issues such as abortion, prostitution, crime etc.
 If the population contains few relevant cases
 If the population is unknown or not relevant identifiable.

Types of purposive sampling

The following are the types of purposive sampling:

1. Snowball or chain sampling

2. Extreme case sampling
3. Maximum variation sampling
4. Homogenous sampling
5. Typical case sampling
6. Critical sampling

Snowball or chain sampling

Each of the respondents in a small sample is asked to propose another person in the
community who bears similar (specific) characteristics (and therefore qualifying for sampling
for the survey) who can also be interviewed. Snowball sampling begins with a few people or
cases and then gradually increases the sample size as new contacts are mentioned by the
people you started out with. This kind of sampling has often been used in community
research. The precise definition of the first sample is crucial in this case, which determines
the criteria for sampling. This technique is used when studying difficult or rare groups to
locate. For example, a student of history wants to study the liberation movement in Zambia.
To do this, he identifies a few knowledgeable Liberation Veterans who, in turn, introduce
him to others. Through this process, more and more informants are drawn into the sample as
the research proceeds. That is why this method is called snowballing. You can also study
street children, commercial sex workers or traditional medicine men or traditional medicine
women.