Purposive sampling was
Research methodology and reporting expression
Use this phrase in formal research to explain why you intentionally selected specific participants for their unique insights.
En 15 secondes
- A formal way to say you hand-picked participants for a study.
- Used in academic writing to justify specific participant choices.
- Focuses on expert knowledge rather than random selection.
- Always followed by an explanation of your specific criteria.
Signification
This phrase describes a specific way of choosing people for a study based on their unique characteristics rather than picking them at random. It means you hand-picked your participants because they have the exact knowledge or experience you need.
Exemples clés
3 sur 6Writing a university thesis
Purposive sampling was utilized to identify participants with over twenty years of experience in renewable energy.
Purposive sampling was used to find people with 20+ years in green energy.
Explaining a business case study
Purposive sampling was the chosen method to ensure we captured the perspectives of both junior and senior staff.
We specifically chose to talk to both new and old staff.
A student joking about their dating life
I'd like to say purposive sampling was used for my recent dates, but it was mostly just luck.
I wish I picked my dates for a reason, but it was random.
Contexte culturel
Originating in 20th-century sociology, this term reflects the academic shift toward 'qualitative' depth over 'quantitative' breadth. In English-speaking academic circles, using this phrase signals that you understand the nuances of bias and intentionality in data collection. It is a hallmark of the 'Methodology' section in Western research papers.
The 'Because' Rule
Never use this phrase without a 'because' or 'to' following it. You must justify your 'purpose' immediately or the reader will be confused.
Don't hide laziness
Academics can tell if you used 'purposive sampling' just because you couldn't find enough people. Make sure your 'purpose' is actually scientific!
En 15 secondes
- A formal way to say you hand-picked participants for a study.
- Used in academic writing to justify specific participant choices.
- Focuses on expert knowledge rather than random selection.
- Always followed by an explanation of your specific criteria.
What It Means
Purposive sampling was is the start of a sentence explaining your research strategy. It tells your reader that you didn't just pull names out of a hat. Instead, you had a clear purpose for every single person you included. You chose them because they are experts, or because they represent a very specific group. It is like inviting only gourmet chefs to a dinner party because you want to talk about high-end cooking. You aren't being mean to non-chefs; you just have a specific goal in mind.
How To Use It
You usually follow this phrase with the word used or employed. For example: Purposive sampling was used to select the lead engineers. You then need to explain *why* you chose them. Did they have ten years of experience? Did they live through a specific event? Use this phrase to show you were intentional. It makes you sound like a pro who knows exactly what they are doing. It’s the academic version of saying, "I picked these people for a very good reason."
When To Use It
Use this in formal reports, university dissertations, or business case studies. It belongs in the 'Methodology' section of your writing. If you are explaining why you interviewed five specific CEOs instead of 500 random employees, this is your go-to phrase. It works perfectly when your sample size is small but the quality of information is very high. It’s great for qualitative research where stories matter more than raw numbers.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this at a casual Friday happy hour. If you tell a friend, "Purposive sampling was used to choose this bar," they will think you’ve spent too much time in the library. Avoid it in big statistical studies where randomness is required for accuracy. If you are trying to prove a general trend for a whole country, this method might be seen as biased. Also, don't use it if you actually just picked whoever was nearby—that’s convenience sampling, and pretending it was purposive is a big no-no!
Cultural Background
This phrase comes from the world of social sciences and market research. In Western academic culture, being transparent about your choices is a sign of integrity. We value the 'why' behind the data. It reflects a shift from seeing people as just numbers to seeing them as specific sources of deep knowledge. It’s part of a tradition that respects expert opinion and lived experience over just 'the average.'
Common Variations
You might see A purposive sampling technique was... or Purposive sampling was deemed appropriate because.... Sometimes people use Judgmental sampling, but that sounds a bit more negative. Purposive is the gold standard for sounding objective and professional. Stick to the classic version to stay safe in your writing.
Notes d'usage
This is a C1-level academic expression. It is almost exclusively used in the passive voice (`was used`) to maintain a formal, objective tone in research reporting.
The 'Because' Rule
Never use this phrase without a 'because' or 'to' following it. You must justify your 'purpose' immediately or the reader will be confused.
Don't hide laziness
Academics can tell if you used 'purposive sampling' just because you couldn't find enough people. Make sure your 'purpose' is actually scientific!
The 'Judgmental' Synonym
In some older textbooks, this is called 'Judgmental sampling.' However, in modern English, 'judgmental' sounds like you are criticizing people, so 'purposive' is much more polite.
Exemples
6Purposive sampling was utilized to identify participants with over twenty years of experience in renewable energy.
Purposive sampling was used to find people with 20+ years in green energy.
Shows the researcher had a specific 'purpose' (experience).
Purposive sampling was the chosen method to ensure we captured the perspectives of both junior and senior staff.
We specifically chose to talk to both new and old staff.
Justifies why the group isn't just one type of person.
I'd like to say purposive sampling was used for my recent dates, but it was mostly just luck.
I wish I picked my dates for a reason, but it was random.
Uses high-level academic language for a funny, low-level situation.
Guys, let's write that purposive sampling was used so our professor thinks we were super organized.
Let's say we hand-picked people so we look smart.
Informal discussion about using formal terminology.
Purposive sampling was essential here because we needed to speak with survivors who felt comfortable sharing their stories.
We had to pick specific people who were ready to talk.
Shows empathy and careful planning in a serious context.
Purposive sampling was employed to avoid the noise of irrelevant data points.
We hand-picked people to keep the data clean.
Classic academic phrasing using 'employed' instead of 'used'.
Teste-toi
Complete the sentence to sound like a professional researcher.
___ ___ was used to select the three village elders for the interview.
Since you are choosing specific 'village elders' for their unique knowledge, it is purposive, not random.
Choose the correct verb to follow the phrase in a formal report.
Purposive sampling was ___ to ensure a diverse range of opinions.
'Employed' or 'utilized' are the standard formal verbs used with this phrase in academic English.
🎉 Score : /2
Aides visuelles
Formality of 'Purposive sampling was'
Talking to a friend about picking a movie.
"I just picked this one."
Explaining a choice in a work meeting.
"We chose these clients specifically."
Writing a standard business report.
"Specific participants were selected."
Academic journals and dissertations.
"Purposive sampling was employed..."
When to use Purposive Sampling language
Master's Thesis
Explaining your interview choices.
Market Research
Targeting a specific demographic.
Medical Study
Selecting patients with a rare condition.
Expert Panel
Justifying why you invited certain guests.
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsIt means 'done with a specific purpose.' In this context, it means you didn't leave your selection to chance; you had a goal in mind.
Only if you are being sarcastic or funny. It's very 'heavy' language for a casual chat. Use I specifically chose... instead.
No, it is the exact opposite! Random sampling is like a lottery; purposive sampling is like a hand-picked guest list.
The most common verbs are used, employed, utilized, or conducted. For example, Purposive sampling was utilized....
It is used in both! It is a standard term in global English-language academia and research.
Only if you are sending a formal report or data analysis. For a regular email, it might sound a bit too stiff.
In formal writing, we often avoid using 'I'. Using Purposive sampling was... makes the writing sound more objective and scientific.
No. Convenience sampling means you picked whoever was easiest to find. Purposive sampling means you picked the *best* people for the topic.
It implies 'intentionality.' While all non-random sampling has some bias, using this phrase shows you are being honest about it.
You can use it for objects too! For example, Purposive sampling was used to select the historical documents for review.
Expressions liées
Snowball sampling
Asking participants to recommend other people for the study.
Qualitative methodology
Research focused on words and meanings rather than numbers.
Inclusion criteria
The specific rules used to decide who can be in a study.
Representative sample
A small group that accurately reflects the larger population.
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