MGT 200 - Small Business Management: Choosing Participants

What should my sample size be?

• A sample is a portion of the larger population that you are researching.

• There isn't one, “standard” sample size that applies to all primary research projects. 

• A sample size that is too large may present issues regarding time and money, while a sample size that is too small may invalidate your results. 

• Use your best judgment when determining your sample size.

Who can I ask to participate in my research?  

• Leveraging your network of friends and family is probably a safe option for starters.  

• You need to take precautions if you want to ask vulnerable populations to participate in your research. Vulnerable populations include: children, prisoners, pregnant women, cognitively impaired individuals, and students, employees, or faculty. 

How do I find people to participate in my research?

Customer discovery, or finding people to talk to, can be challenging. Be creative and leverage existing communities of people such as:

• Professional/trade associations- access to a network of individuals in a particular industry.

• Listservs - use these email lists to disseminate surveys to a large group or solicit interview subjects.

• Social media networks (e.g., LinkedIn, Facebook Groups) - find people with a particular type of role/job or a shared interest relevant to your research.