SAMPLE SIZE
Consider this scenario:
You are a researcher investigating risk factors related to pancreatic cancer. In order to promote positive social change, it is important to collect a large enough sample size to justify making generalizations to their population out of people who have pancreatic cancer.
In this Discussion, reflect on the number of variables you plan to use and consider the impact that sample size has on generalizability.
RESOURCES
Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.
To prepare:
- As you consider the scenario, be mindful of the number of variables you, as the researcher, intend to use and the type of research design/analysis to be conducted.
- Also, consider the importance of sample size to generalizability.
- Search the internet and/or the Walden Library for information related to the risk factors associated with pancreatic cancer to complete this Discussion
- Review the Learning Resources, specifically the Power Table in the Johnson and Christensen course text.
BY DAY 4 (POST FIRST)
Post your response based on the literature from your search: What should be the minimum sample size for this study related to pancreatic cancer in order to justify making generalizations from the sample to the population? What information would you need to know in order to use the Power Table to determine an appropriate sample size?
Further, explain the possible consequences of having too small of a sample size for this study.
- Johnson, R. B., & Christensen, L. B. (2020). Educational research: Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed approaches (7th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
- Chapter 10, “Sampling in Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Research” (pp. 239–266)
- In particular review “Determining the Sample Size When Random Sampling Is Used” (pp. 255-257)
- Chapter 10, “Sampling in Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Research” (pp. 239–266)
