CHAPTER 4: METHODOLOGY AND RESEARCH DESIGN
4.4 Research methodology
4.4.1 Population sampling
The next section discusses the methodological approaches used in exploring the experiences of lesbian and gay students on the NWU Potchefstroom campus.
(to which they initially did subscribe) based on, among others, a disdain for hetero- and homonormativity. The qualitative sampling process is deemed flexible and open to refinement and develop throughout the research process while still foregrounding the particular inclusion criteria for the participants (being sexual minorities) (Farrugia, 2019:69).
Identifying the sample and recruiting participants in qualitative research do not happen randomly.
To gain access to self-identified gay and lesbian students, purposive and snowball sampling were used in this study. The following sub-sections discuss purposive and snowball sampling and how these sampling strategies were used in this study.
4.4.1.1 Purposive sampling
Purposive sampling is also known as selective, judgemental, or subjective sampling. The procedure relies on the judgement of the researcher to select the relevant and most applicable sample for their study (Sharma, 2017:751). By using homogenous purposive sampling, I was able to focus on recruiting participants that may share similar experiences of the phenomenon under investigation (Etikan & Bala, 2017:215; Farrugia, 2019). Farrugia (2019:70) argues that this method tends to be utilised in conceptually driven research, which applied to this study, as it was driven by the concept of heteronormativity and the process of conceptualising homonormativity.
Since purposive sampling relies on the researcher’s judgement, Sharma (2017:752) critiques it for being potentially inclined to researcher bias. This critique is mostly applicable if the sample is not based on clear inclusion criteria or a theoretical framework (Sharma, 2017:752). Sampling is usually characterised by demographics such as the participants’ gender, age, race, and more nuanced variables such as their beliefs, attitudes, or experiences (Farrugia, 2019:70)
Purposive sampling was the most appropriate method to use, since, in addition to being full-time students at the NWU, participants were required to self-identify as lesbian or gay – which proved to be relatively difficult, as such participants are not necessarily visible or easily identifiable (i.e.,
“hidden”) (Francis, 2017; Matthyse, 2017; Msibi, 2013, 2015). Purposive sampling was used, as it allowed me to allow participation in the study if participants had experiences relating to the phenomena of hetero- and homonormativity on campus (Farrugia, 2019:11). The chair of the LGBTIQ+ society on campus, Campus Pride, was contacted to serve as gatekeeper and to consent to providing potential access to the “difficult-to-reach” participants. The chair agreed to serve as gatekeeper and to introduce the research to possible self-identified gay and lesbian participants. Consequently, I compiled a call for participants (Addendum A), which included an abstract of the study, its objectives, criteria for participation as well as my contact details if any readers were interested to participate. Having the gatekeeper introduce the research through the call for participants helped protect the privacy of possible participants as well as their freedom to
voluntarily decide to participate or not (Moriña, 2020:3). Although feasible, the method was not sufficient in acquiring the required number of participants. I again employed purposive sampling to identify self-identified gay and lesbian acquaintances to further assist with disseminating the call for participants to individuals who exhibited the inclusion criteria (Farrugia, 2019).
4.4.1.2 Snowball sampling
Additionally, snowball sampling – also known as chain referral sampling (Biernacki & Waldorf, 1981:141) – was used. Biernacki and Waldorf (1981:141) define snowball sampling as a method of sampling participants by requesting the present participants to refer other individuals, who also match the inclusion criteria, to the researcher for the purpose of further conducting the study.
Snowball sampling proved useful in the present study insofar as it provided me with access to marginalised or hidden persons (i.e., self-identified lesbian and gay students) (Ghaljaie et al., 2017:3; Sharma, 2017). Access to preliminary samples is needed for the effective use of snowball sampling, as these samples will introduce other possible participants to the idea of participating in the research (Ghaljaie et al., 2017:3). Those who decide to participate may also introduce the research to more possible participants and so the sample size may increase until the point of data saturation is reached (Sharma, 2017:752). Audemard (2020:32) supports this by stating that snowball sampling concerns itself with enlarging the population sample by including people referred to the research by the original sample.
Of the 27 participants, 10 were recruited through purposive sampling, and 17 were recruited through snowball sampling. The primary communication with the chairperson of Campus Pride took place via e-mail. Possible participants had the choice to send me (the researcher) an e-mail or a message via the WhatsApp application. Participants who contacted me were subsequently asked to assist in further disseminating the call for participants to other persons who would possibly be interested in participating in the study.
This section explored and discussed the application and use of purposive and snowball sampling to reach the point of data saturation. The sample consisted of 11 self-identified gay and 10 self- identified lesbian, one bi-curious, two bisexual and three pansexual students who were registered at the NWU Potchefstroom campus at the time of the study. The next sub-section explores and discusses the data collection methods employed in this study.