Pros and Cons of using Purposive Sampling Method

Purposive sampling is a sampling technique, in which a researcher mostly depends on his/her judgement on choosing members of the population to take part in a study. There are various sampling techniques taken by the researchers. A common type of sampling can be random sampling, in which the researcher has the chance to pick any participant.

However, this specific blog is about purposive sampling, which is a non-probability sampling method. This sampling technique takes place when the elements selected for the sample are picked by the researcher. Researchers often need a small sample so that they can use an adequate viewpoint for saving the time and capital of the researcher. There are various benefits and disadvantages to using purposive sampling.

Advantages of using the Purposive Sampling Method

Purposive sampling techniques can be effective when only a certain number of people can take part in the interviews. In this method, research can be done when only a few people can be used as primary data sources. This is due to the research design and requirements of the research. For instance, a study being conducted on examining the impact of training on employees can include managers using their own judgement for choosing the managers who can participate in the research. So, this is an example of purposive sampling.

• Purposive sampling is a cost-effective and time-saving sampling method for carrying out the research. When researchers are short of time and do not have enough funds available, they can focus on taking up purposive sampling techniques.
• Another advantage of using purposive sampling is that it can be useful when the number of people included in the study is less. In such cases, purposive sampling can be put to use.
• The third advantage of using purposive sampling is that it can be useful in certain situations where determining meaning can be useful from an intuitive approach.

Disadvantages of using the Purposive Sampling Method

The purposive sampling technique is highly disadvantageous in certain cases. In business studies, because of the disadvantages of purposive sampling, it is not used widely in business research studies. There are various disadvantages to purposive sampling.

• When a researcher uses purposive sampling, there is a huge vulnerability to errors and issues in the research. Therefore, it can affect the results of the research. The researcher can face a lot of challenges when opting for purposive sampling.
• Another disadvantage of using purposive sampling, there is a low level of reliability in using this method along with a lot of unfairness in the research. In many research studies, researchers can find it tough to use it as there is a massive bias involved.
• The third disadvantage is the inability to generalise the findings in the research. Researchers cannot generalise their results due to which the study can have many limitations.

Because of the cons of purposive sampling, supervisors often suggest their students take different sampling methods that can help in providing better results, such as random sampling.

Conclusion

It can be concluded that the purposive sampling method is still a useful method in many studies and its benefits cannot be ignored. However, it is vital to analyse their pros and cons when taking up this technique in research studies. There can be many factors to be considered. However, if you have been facing issues with using the right sampling method, then hire the best assignment writers who can do your research study. They ensure they weigh all the advantages and disadvantages before choosing the sampling method.