2.7 Population and Sampling Size (Qualitative Only)
There are several factors that affect the size of the sample that are needed for an accurate measurement of data. The principle of saturation needs to guide the process. The saturation point in homogenous groups appears to be about 12 participants. Homogenous groups are those composed of people having the same level of the knowledge about the study. Saturation is important to obtain the proper results but, in many studies, the saturation point changes as the group changes. When this occurs another group is formed through the process of the study by breaking into other homogenous groups.
The primary sampling in this study comes from people referring other people. The referral process is helpful to gain a sampling that is homogenous in nature. In the emergent framework, the attempt to gain a homogenous sampling will become more difficult without a homogenous group to begin the process. Since the hypothesis relates to the costs of a community hospital only those people who are aware of the cost structure of a hospital can offer an accurate assessment. Therefore, the addition of the chain sampling will permit a sharing of individuals. As one person who is familiar with hospital finance suggests another who is also familiar the chain sampling procedure will continue. This sample then will be composed of a homogenous group.
In some studies the number of participants is determined by the researcher’s time to conduct the study. The exact number of people required to make an adequate sample varies. It can vary as much as one to a hundred in some studies. Another opinion suggest a sample size of 30 to allow for the benefits of the Central limit Theorem. The bell shaped curve will begin to form a cure if the data is normally distributed. The sample size of 30 is a lower boundary for a large sample inference about the mean of the quantitative variable. Thirty is a suggested number of participants, suggested in the research.
The determinates of this study control the data saturation. A small study should reach saturation at a higher level than a larger study. Data saturation occurs when the replication of the data in another study is possible or when new information in obtained. There is not a specific number in this study that will verify or nullify the hypotheses but by using the guidelines that data saturation has been reached and there is enough information to replicate the study, sufficient data saturation will be obtained.
A focus group of leading healthcare executives would lend itself to a starting point to secure participants in the study. Chain sampling after this would be to ask the participants to refer another set of focus group members or an individual member. This will increase the number of participants. For example, interviewing a small number of executives, allows for them to express their individual views, and also elicit a group discussion. This will help to gather a meeting of the homogenous group and ask for referrals to others. Rich descriptors are provided from gathered data. The descriptors are useful to analyze the concepts, and put the material in a well-defined perspective .
2.8 Ethical Research
In research it is important to respect the rights of an individual as they are participating in the research study. The use of the Informed Consent procedure will help to ensure that all participants are aware of the study parameters and uses. Basically, the participants agree that they are freely and voluntarily giving an informed consent. The researcher has the responsibility to explain clearly the nature of the research and how the results will be disseminated. Participants should have the right to refuse to participate without any ramifications from the researchers. The participants are to be reassured as to the confidentiality of the data gathered and their personal information, if any is rendered. The ability of the participants to withdraw is also an option for the researchers. A sample of the Informed Consent document is available in Appendix A.
b. Withdrawal from study. For a variety of reasons, a participant may need to withdraw. In addition, the researcher may find that a participant is not part of the homogenous group that was desired. When this happens, there are some conditions that need to be assessed. The first is on the condition of the data that the interviewer has received any information from the subject. If the subject has participated to some point that the researcher can use the data, the conclusion can be drawn that the participation was sufficient. The participant will be counted in the study.
If the situation is that the participant does not wish to be included then the data received from the participant needs to be withdrawn. So the circumstances of the withdrawal will precipitate the procedure.
c. Incentives for participating. In any research study it is difficult to get participants to take the time to complete the study. It does require a commitment of their time. Some incentives can be offered to help ease the burden that the time commitment might place on them. In this case, however, the incentives are altruistic in that the results will help the community in the future to lower the health costs of the area. This may be incentive enough for the group of homogenous people that are involved.
d. Ethical Responsibilities. Society depends on statistical research to help in decision making and to produce conclusions that are useful in society. In this study, the statistics developed from the results may in fact, have an impact on the hospital costs in the future. Because of the obvious importance of the study it is necessary to ensure that ethical practices of the researchers are followed. Professionalism by the researchers will be of the highest level to guarantee that each is treated with total respect and comfort. The data received from the study will be guarded against the possibility of the researchers to come to a predetermined result. Data received from the study will not contain any personal information. The results of the study will be archived in a file away from the initial place of the study. The printed materials, including but not limited to the Informed Consent forms will be stored in a safe for five years to protect the identity of the participants.
References
Argesti, A. (2014) On Sample Size Guidelines for Teaching Inference about the Binomial Parameter in Intorductory Statistics. Uniersity of Florida, Department of Statistics.
Directors, B. (1999). Ethical Guidelines. [online] http://www.amstat.org/about/ethicalguidelines.cfm Accessed March 2016: American Statistical Association.
Fusch, P. (2015). Are We There Yet? Data Saturation in Qualitative Reserach. Journal of Qualitative Reserach, 20(9).
Health Sciences and Behavioral Sciences. (2015, Jan 2). Univerisity of Michagan REserach Lab, pp. online http://research-compliance.umich.edu/informed-consent-guidelines.
Hollingshead, A. (2012). Reserach Methods for Studying Groups and Teams. Routledge.
Lantham, J. (2013). Facilators, and Strategic Leadership Systems. Journal of Qualiative Meadusrment.
Louganthen, P. (2015, January 15). How do I determine and justify the sample size for a study involving couples? . Researchgate.com.
Richardson, S. (2013). How many Qualitative interviews is enough? National Center for Research Journal.
Appendix A
Informed Consent Form
Consent to Participate in a Research Study
Principal Investigator:
Co-investigator:
Invitation to Participate in a Research Study
We/I invite you to be part of a research study about Reducing Costs and Improving Quality of Healthcare
Description of Your Involvement
If you agree to be part of the research study, we/I will ask you to provide your opinion on the Reducing Costs and Improving Quality of Healthcare
Benefits of Participation
You may directly benefit from being in this study because
OR
Although you may not directly benefit from being in this study, others may benefit because
Risks and Discomforts of Participation
There may be some risk or discomfort from your participation in this research
Compensation for Participation
For your participation in this research project, you will receive
Confidentiality
We/I plan to publish the results of this study. We/I will not include any information that would identify you. Your privacy will be protected and your research records will be confidential.
It is possible that other people may need to see the information you give us as part of the study, such as organizations responsible for making sure the research is done safely and properly like the
Storage and Future Use of Data
I/We will store your data
Voluntary Nature of the Study
Participating in this study is completely voluntary. Even if you decide to participate now, you may change your mind and stop at any time. You do not have to answer a question you do not want to answer. Just tell me/us and I/we will go to the next question. If you decide to withdraw before this study is completed, there are no ramifications.
If you have questions about this research, including questions about scheduling or your compensation for participating, you may contact
If you have questions about your rights as a research participant, or wish to obtain information, ask questions or discuss any concerns about this study with someone other than the researcher(s), please contact the:
Consent
I agree to participate in the study.
_________________________________________________
Printed Name
_________________________________________________
You may also need to obtain consents for some of the more common activities listed below. Consent for specific activities should occur when the activity indicated is optional. If not optional, then this should be clearly described in the main body of the consent document.
Consent to be Audio/video Recorded
I agree to be audio/video recorded. YES_________NO_________
_____________________________________
Consent to Use Data in Future Research
I agree that my data may be used in future research. YES_________ NO_________
_____________________________________
Consent to be Contacted for Participation in Future Research
I agree to be contacted for participation in future research. YES_________ NO_________
_____________________________________
