Cited by 1,636Qualitative Research Methods and ApplicationsFocus Groups and Qualitative MethodsQualitative Research Methods and Ethics

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Does Sample Size Matter in Qualitative Research?: A Review of Qualitative Interviews in is Research

Marshall, Bryan, Cardon, Peter, Poddar, Amit, Fontenot, Renee·2013·Journal of Computer Information Systems

DOI 10.1080/08874417.2013.11645667

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Abstract

This study examines 83 IS qualitative studies in leading IS journals for the following purposes: (a) identifying the extent to which IS qualitative studies employ best practices of justifying sample size; (b) identifying optimal ranges of interviews for various types of qualitative research; and (c) identifying the extent to which cultural factors (such as journal of publication, number of authors, world region) impact sample size of interviews. Little or no rigor for justifying sample size was shown for virtually all of the IS studies in this dataset. Furthermore, the number of interviews conducted for qualitative studies is correlated with cultural factors, implying the subjective nature of sample size in qualitative IS studies. Recommendations are provided for minimally acceptable practices of justifying sample size of interviews in qualitative IS studies.

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“Our small sample of participants provided rich, powerful data.(19,20) Specifically, our sample provided sufficient information power for the aims of the study according to Malterud et al.”
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“This sample size was considered adequate to the qualitative/exploratory oriented character of this research, in line with the recommendations from Marshall et al. (2013), of a sample size between 15 and 30 for qualitative oriented studies.”
BackgroundMethod
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“73 A strength of our study is that our sample size aligns with qualitative study guidelines for 15-30 overall participants, 74 the need for fewer individuals when the population is homogenous 75,76 (as reflected by the staff participants), and the quality of our data by conducting inter-views with…”
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“The sample size is appropriate for qualitative analysis where the analysis of a wider sample (more than 30) may become too complex to manage (Boddy, 2016), and indeed Marshall et al. (2013) suggest a range of 15–30 for qualitative interviews (Arasli and Arici, 2019).”
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“This is known as ‘saturation’ 281 and, although it becomes of less relevance for social science research (Braun and Clarke 282 2021), Thomson (2010 cited by Marshall et al. 2013) posits that saturation can be reached 283 with 10-30 interviews, the range which this study falls into.”
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“A sample size of 25 was targeted as we expected this number would provide adequate saturation of major themes [20, 21].”
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“This sample size of 24 was considered appropriate for constructing specific information about a specific phenomenon in a qualitative study [49].”
Background
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“Moreover, case-study research is often criticized because of their context-specific nature and thus lack of representativeness (Gerring, 2007; Marshall et al., 2013).”
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“This sample size is also aligned with indication from Mason (2010) and Marshall et al. (2013).”
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“This sample size (30, and 29, respectively) has been shown to allow for the identification of key terms and concepts through content-driven qualitative analysis (Marshall et al. 2013).”
Background
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“After 42 interviews, we reached theoretical saturation (Marshall et al. 2013), which complies with standards for interviews in qualitative research that suggest more than 30 interviews and less than 50 (van Rijnsoever 2017).”
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“Since data saturation is expected after 20–30 interviews [21], 30 experts from three different professional groups (medicine, education, psychology) were interviewed.”
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“Subsequently, large sampling does not essentially decree the overall quality of the study (Marshall et al., 2013) and, indeed, it was Creswell (2013) who suggested that even as low as 3–5 cases for qualitative studies could be viewed as suffice.”
Background
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“…of their research process, data gathering methods, analysis and interpretation of ﬁ ndings (Saunders et al., 2018; Sebele-Mpofu, 2020, 2021), yet researchers lament the failure to clear document saturation point achievement by qualitative researchers (Marshall et al., 2013; Rowlands et al., 2016).”
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“Typically, most of the interviews per study fall between 11 and 20 (Marshall et al. 2013).”
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“…that the data has reached a saturated state but do not clearly indicate what criteria are used to define saturation or explain rather superficially that the data has reached the saturation point and do not present substantiated proof of saturation (Francis et al., 2010; Marshall et al., 2013).”
Background
Consumer-centric electricity markets: Six design principles
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“After this number, the value of additional interviews decreases [53].”
Background

Authors: Marshall, B., Cardon, P., Poddar, A., & Fontenot, R.
Affiliations: Georgia College & State University (US)
University of Southern California (US)
ORCID: Cardon, Peter
Poddar, Amit
Venue: Journal of Computer Information Systems
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Published: 2013-09
Volume: 54
Issue: 1
Pages: 11-22
ISSN: 0887-4417 (ISSN-L)
2380-2057
DOI: 10.1080/08874417.2013.11645667
OpenAlex: W124963830
Cited by: 1,636
References: 0
Citations by year: 2026: 125 · 2025: 203 · 2024: 204 · 2023: 168 · 2022: 161 · 2021: 192 · 2020: 128 · 2019: 131 · 2018: 105 · 2017: 52 · 2016: 98 · 2015: 62 · 2014: 7
FWCI: 268.21
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Journal of Computer Information Systems (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Education › Qualitative Research Methods and Applications
Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Focus Groups and Qualitative Methods
Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Qualitative Research Methods and Ethics
Keywords: sample size justification, qualitative interviews, qualitative research rigor, information systems research, number of authors

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Does Sample Size Matter in Qualitative Research?: A Review of Qualitative Interviews in is Research

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