A purposive sample is a non-probability sample that is selected based on characteristics of a

population and the objective of the study. Purposive sampling is also known as judgmental, selective, or
subjective sampling.

This type of sampling can be very useful in situations when you need to reach a targeted sample
quickly, and where sampling for proportionality is not the main concern. There are seven types of
purposive samples, each appropriate to a different research objective.

Advantages of Purposive Sampling (Judgment Sampling)

1. Purposive sampling is one of the most cost-effective and time-effective sampling methods available.
2. Purposive sampling may be the only appropriate method available if there are only limited numbers of
primary data sources who can contribute to the study.
3. This sampling technique can be effective in exploring anthropological situations where the discovery of
meaning can benefit from an intuitive approach.
4. Purposive sampling is one of the most cost-effective and time-effective sampling methods available.
5. Purposive sampling may be the only appropriate method available if there are only limited numbers of
primary data sources who can contribute to the study.
6. This sampling technique can be effective in exploring anthropological situations where the discovery of
meaning can benefit from an intuitive approach.

Disadvantages of Purposive Sampling (Judgment Sampling)

1. Vulnerability to errors in judgment by researcher.
2. Low level of reliability and high levels of bias.
3. Inability to generalize research findings.
Types of Purposive Samples

1. Maximum variation/heterogeneous purposive sample is one which is selected to provide a

diverse range of cases relevant to a particular phenomenon or event. The purpose of this kind of
sample design is to provide as much insight as possible into the event or phenomenon under
examination. For example, when conducting a street poll about an issue, a researcher would want
to ensure that he or she speaks with as many different kinds of people as possible in order to
construct a robust view of the issue from the public's perspective.

2. Homogeneous purposive sample is one that is selected for having a shared characteristic or set
of characteristics. For example, a team of researchers wanted to understand what the significance
of white skin--whiteness--means to white people, so they asked white people about this. This is a
homogenous sample created on the basis of race.

3. Typical case sampling is a type of purposive sampling useful when a researcher wants to
study a phenomenon or trend as it relates to what are considered "typical" or "average" members
of the effected population. If a researcher wants to study how a type of educational curriculum
affects the average student, then he or she choose to focus on average members of a student
population.

4. Extreme/deviant case sampling is used when a researcher wants to study the outliers that
diverge from the norm as regards a particular phenomenon, issue, or trend. By studying the
deviant cases, researchers can often gain a better understanding of the more regular patterns of
behavior. If a researcher wanted to understand the relationship between study habits and high
academic achievement, he or she should purposively sample students considered high achievers.

5. Critical case sampling is a type of purposive sampling in which just one case is chosen for
study because the researcher expects that studying it will reveal insights that can be applied to
other like cases.

6. Total population sampling a researcher chooses to examine the entire population that has one
or more shared characteristics. This kind of purposive sampling technique is commonly used to
generate reviews of events or experiences, which is to say, it is common to studies of particular
groups within larger populations

7. Expert sampling is a form of purposive sampling used when research requires one to capture
knowledge rooted in a particular form of expertise. It is common to use this form of purposive
sampling technique in the early stages of a research process, when the researcher is seeking to
become better informed about the topic at hand before embarking on a study.
References:

American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics 2016; 5(1): 1-4 Published online
December 22, 2015 (http://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/j/ajtas) doi:
10.11648/j.ajtas.20160501.11 ISSN: 2326-8999 (Print); ISSN: 2326-9006 (Online)

Ilker Etikan, Sulaiman Abubakar Musa, Rukayya Sunusi Alkassim Department of Biostatistics,
Near East University, Nicosia-TRNC, Cyprus Email address: ietikan@gmail.com (I. Etikan),
ietikan@hotmail.com (I. Etikan), sulebah002@gmail.com (S. A. Musa),
rukayyaalkassim@gmail.com (R. S. Alkassim) To cite this article: Ilker Etikan, Sulaiman
Abubakar Musa, Rukayya Sunusi Alkassim. Comparison of Convenience Sampling and
Purposive Sampling. American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics. Vol. 5, No. 1, 2016,
pp. 1-4. doi: 10.11648/j.ajtas.20160501.11