Purposive Sampling
A non-probability method that deliberately selects participants for their relevance to the research question, using explicit criteria.
Purposive sampling, sometimes called judgmental sampling, chooses participants because they hold characteristics, experiences, or knowledge that the research question requires. Rather than seeking statistical representativeness, the researcher defines selection criteria, such as role, experience level, or exposure to a phenomenon, and recruits cases that meet them. Variants include selecting typical cases, extreme cases, or a maximum-variation mix. It is a standard approach in qualitative research, where depth and relevance matter more than population coverage.
In a thesis, purposive sampling is defensible when the criteria are stated and justified. Explain what made someone information-rich for your question and how you applied the criteria in recruitment. This transforms the method from a vague choice into a reasoned design decision, and it gives examiners a clear standard against which to judge your participant group.
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