Nursing Research: Examining Sampling Theory and Techniques

This report examines the application of sampling theory in nursing research, emphasizing its significance in ensuring the validity and generalizability of research findings. It reviews the work of Elfil & Negida (2017) and the application of probability sampling, including simple random, stratified random, systematic, and clustered random methods. It also touches upon non-probability sampling methods like convenience, judgmental, and snowball sampling. The report highlights the impact of sampling methods on the generalizability of the research results, with probability sampling methods providing higher generalizability. References include Butler, Copnell, & Hall (2018) and Elfil & Negida (2017).

Running head: SAMPLING THEORY
Sampling Theory in Nursing Research
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

SAMPLING THEORY
Sampling Theory in Nursing Research
Nursing research is an integral part of the health care industry as it assists the most
significant proportion of the workforce, that is, nurses, to imply evidence-based researches
into their clinical practices. One critical part of the research methodology is sampling, which
strongly determines the validity of the research paper. The following sections of the paper
will review the literature on sampling theory and analyse its importance in nursing research.
Only applicable to random samples, the sampling theory implies the study of the
existing relationship between the population and samples drawn from it. It is the field of
statistics that deals with the collection of data, its systematic analysis and proper
interpretation to achieve the research objectives and conclude the findings.
Elfil & Negida (2017) conducted an educational review of sampling methods used in
clinical nursing research. The authors identified two broad categories of sampling method,
which were probability sampling and non-probability sampling method. In probability
sampling method, the target subjects from a particular population have an equal chance to get
randomly selected for the study and this category includes simple random, stratified random,
systematic and clustered random method. In non-probability sampling method, the subjects
are enrolled by the researchers based on proximity and accessibility and this method includes
convenience, judgmental and snow-ball sampling.
Generalizability, which determines the extent to which the research findings can be
applied to other population samples, is highly dependent on the sampling method used in the
research. According to Elfil & Negida (2017), the generalizability of findings from a study
based on probability sampling method has higher generalizability.

SAMPLING THEORY
References
Butler, A. E., Copnell, B., & Hall, H. (2018). The development of theoretical sampling in
practice. Collegian, 25(5), 561-566.
Elfil, M., & Negida, A. (2017). Sampling methods in clinical research; an educational
review. Emergency, 5(1).