Which type of sampling involves selecting participants based on specific characteristics?

Purposive sampling is a method where participants are selected based on specific characteristics that are relevant to the research study. This approach allows researchers to focus on a targeted group that possesses certain traits or experiences that align with the study's aims. For example, if a social worker is conducting research on individuals who have received a particular type of intervention, they would select participants who have gone through that intervention rather than a random selection of individuals.

This selective process is essential in qualitative research and certain types of quantitative research, where understanding specific phenomena in depth is more critical than generalizing findings across a broader population. The goal is to gather rich and relevant data that directly addresses the research questions being posed.

In contrast, other sampling methods, such as random sampling, stratified sampling, and systematic sampling, focus on obtaining a representative sample from a larger population rather than selecting individuals based on predetermined characteristics. This distinction makes purposive sampling particularly valuable in contexts where specialized knowledge or experience is crucial for the research findings.