Determining the sample in the language oriented qualitative researches

Abstract

Among other aspects, the quantitative researchers point out that defining the research sample is an extremely important question which contributes to the research validity and objectivity, thus raising dillemas on specifying the sample in the qualitative researches related to language phenomena and questions. Therefore, this paper aims to answer the question: How can the sample be determined in the language oriented qualitative research, taking into consideration three different qualitative research scenarios developed by the authors, which, in fact, serve as a sample. The analysis of these scenarios exploits the general qualitative interpretative/inductive approach. The research results clearly show the complex process of choosing the sample, indicating that in the language qualitative researches the decision on the sample depends on the research question and the research goal, that the sample cannot be determined in advance due to the nature of the qualitative researches and that the sample directs the researches in many ways. Thus, determining the sample is an ongoing and constant process of feeding the research question with new information until the saturation is achieved and in the same time, while sampling, the researcher is, in fact, analyzing the data. This research has theoretical and practical implications as well, especially for those who are challenged to conduct the qualitative research on language issues. It provides them with knowledge that broadens their horizons and makes them aware of the qualitative researches' relevance and, in particular, of the sample determination.