Answer 2 for DNP 830 Determine the sampling method used in your project
The sample size is an important consideration when designing and conducting a study. This is true for experimental research and for quality improvement implementation. Diligently selecting a sample size helps to ascertain if the results from the study are a true representation of the population. In critically selecting the sample to represent the general population, the researcher is more confidently able to translate results. This increases the certainty that the findings would be similar if the entire population was included in the study. As it is not impractical and inefficient to include the entire population, researchers use a power analysis to determine the sample size. To select the appropriate sample size, researchers consider the confidence interval which is a percentage that the researcher believes the results would be true in the total population (Qualtrics, 2020).
For this writer’s DPI project, there is an anticipated minimum of two admits. Over eight weeks, there would be 112 people admitted into the ICU. Using a confidence interval of 95% results in a sample size of 87. Having the appropriate size of the quality improvement will be important in accepting the results of the study as valid. If a sample size is too small, it can be more challenging to detect a statistically significant difference, when one actually exists (Kang, 2021). It is also prudent to have a large enough sample size to avoid using resources and producing data that can be replicated by other researchers (Center for Innovation in Research and Teaching, n.d.).
For the purpose of the QI project, a convenience sample will be used for all patients over the age of 18 who are admitted into the unit. There are different methods that can be used to get the population. Participants can be randomly selected or intentionally selected, such as those pulled from a convenience sample. Random or purposeful sampling has different methods that can be used. A convenience sample is selected based on the ease and availability to the researcher. For the DPI project, it would be people who are admitted to the ICU. Due to the time constraints and because the project is a quality improvement not experimental, convenience sampling will be appropriate for this project.
References
Center for Innovation in Research and Teaching. (n.d.). Sample size. Grand Canyon University https://cirt.gcu.edu/research/develop/realworld/samplesize.
Kang, H. (2021). Sample size determination and power analysis using the G*Power software. Journal of Educational Evaluation for Health Professions, 18, 17. https://doi-org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.3352/jeehp.2021.18.17.
