Sampling and Subjectsa. Does the researcher describe how informants were chosen? (Type of sample? How selected?)
The researcher described how the study sample had been obtained. The sample was drawn from communities living in the Pacific North West from both rural and urban areas. The sample consisted of lesbian couples and single mothers. Other conditions for inclusion into the study included, the participants had to be fluent in English, self-identified lesbians and had to have had a delivery within the preceding one year. The participants also had to consent to the study in writing.
Non-probability sampling was used during the selection of the sample. In specific, the sample was obtained using two non-probability sampling methods that is, snowball and purposive sampling. The authors contacted the parenting groups within the area of study. They also distributed recruitment flyers to lesbian places such as lesbian bars, bookstores, lesbian health care clinics, local midwives offices, as well as pediatric primary care offices. Additionally, they placed recruitment ads in local gay/lesbian newspapers. Further recruitments were done online via sites such as the Internet Lesbian Mothers sites, and the Alternative Parenting Magazine Internet site, as well as via lesbian and gay e-mail groups.
The snowball and purposive methods of sampling were appropriate for the type of study. This is because the population of interest constitutes only a minority group. These methods thus helped in the recruitment of the participants who matched the inclusion criteria and the exclusion of those who did not meet the requirements. Use of non-probability sampling methods limits the extent to which the findings of the study can be generalized. This is because the participants chosen using these methods do not represent the general population.
References
LoBiondo-Wood, G., & Haber, J. (2010). Nursing research methods and critical appraisal for evidence-based practice (7th ed). St. Louis: Mosby.
Renaud, M. (2007). We are mothers too: Childbearing experiences of lesbian families. JOGNN, 36(2), 190-199.
