INSIGHTS

Purposive Sampling  Abstract Purposive sampling is a widely adopted non-probability sampling technique in qualitative and mixed-method educational research. It involves selecting participants who are information-rich and relevant to the purpose of the study. This paper provides an analytical overview of purposive sampling, its characteristics, types, applications, and methodological value in educational research contexts. The discussion includes a conceptual figure illustrating the sampling process and a descriptive table comparing major types of purposive sampling. Through establishing its theoretical and practical significance, the paper argues that purposive sampling enables researchers to obtain deep, contextualised insights that probability methods cannot always offer. The paper concludes by emphasising its appropriateness for studies aiming to explore experiences, meanings, and processes in education. Keywords Purposive sampling, qualitative research, educational rese...