Page 229 - Mike Ratner CC - WISR Complete Dissertation - v6

As defined by Glaser and Strauss (1967), theoretical sampling is a process of data

collection for generating theory in which the emergent data is used to direct and decide what

additional data is needed and where, from a research perspective, to find the missing data.

Theoretical sampling guided the further development of emerging categories, to make them more

definitive and useful by refining ideas as they developed in process (Charmaz, 2003). As the data

from each interview was collected, coded, and analyzed it added to the insights, perspective and

sense experience from each successive interviewee using a constant comparative method. Constant

comparison consisted of data coding and comparison after an initial round of interviews.

Similarly, theoretical sampling was used to identify concepts, ideas, and perspectives that

were not represented in the initial process of data gathering. Theoretical sampling helped to focus

and direct a series of follow-up interviews required for data saturation. The constant comparison

method guided the direction of theoretical sampling in an iterative process of theory creation

(Holton, 2010) that began with coding.

Data collection for the research phase consisted of identifying volunteer participants who

attended one or more of the Albany NY dialogues for two rounds of interviews; first interviews

and follow-up interviews. First interviews included participants from the initial session but this

was limited to overall impressions gained from the experience and lecture since there were no

dialogues for the first meeting. During the remaining dialogue schedule, which involved more

three sessions, volunteers were identified using my sign-up sheet and through email and telephone

outreach. Outreach accomplished through email and telephone contact was similar in content to

requests made privately when I met or saw a person again during the dialogue sessions I attended.

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