A Framework for Selecting Sample Size in Educational Research on e-business Application

Andreas Ahrens, Jelena Zaščerinska

2014

Abstract

Sample size has a two-fold role in research: sample size is inter-connected with statistical analysis of the data and generalization. Therefore, sample size has attracted a lot of research efforts in all the research fields including educational research on E-Business application. However, little attention has been given to a framework for selecting sample size in educational research on E-Business application. The research question is as follows: what shapes sample size in educational research on E-Business application? The aim of the research is to analyze theoretically sample size shaping underpinning elaboration of a framework for selecting sample size in educational research on E-Business aplication. The present research involves a process of analysing the meaning of the key concepts statistical analysis, generalisation, population, sample, measurement procedures, probability sample, information-oriented sample, case and factors. Moreover, the study demonstrates how the key concepts are related to the idea of “sample size”. Explorative research was employed. Interpretive research paradigm was used. The empirical study involved four experts from different countries in February - April 2013: The findings of the research allow drawing the conclusions on the framework for selecting sample size in educational research on E-Business aplication. Directions of further research are proposed.

References

  1. Ahrens, A., Zašcerinska, J., 2010. Social Dimension of Web 2.0 in Student Teacher Professional Development. In Proceedings of Association for Teacher Education in Europe Spring Conference 2010: Teacher of the 21st Century: Quality Education for Quality Teaching, 179- 186, Riga: University of Latvia.
  2. Arhipova, I., Balina S., 2003. Statistika ekonomika: risinajumi ar SPSS un Microsoft Excel. /Irina Arhipova, Signe Balina. Riga: Datorzinibu centrs.
  3. Bartlett, J. E., Kotrlik J. W., Higgins, C.C., 2001. Organizational Research: Determining Appropriate Sample Size in Survey Research. Information Technology, Learning, and Performance Journal, Vol. 19, No. 1, 43-50, Spring 2001.
  4. Cochran, W. G., 1977. Sampling techniques (3rd ed.). New York: John Wiley & Sons.
  5. Coe, R., 1996. Sampling Size Determination in Farmer Surveys. ICRAF Research Support Unit Technical Note No4. ICRAFWorld Agroforestry Centre Nairobi, Kenya.
  6. Cohen, L., Manion, L., Marrison, K., 2003. Research Methods in Education. London and New York: Routledge/Falmer Taylor & Francis Group.
  7. Creswell, J., 2008. Educational research: Planning, conducting and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.
  8. Flick, U., 2004. Design and Process in Qualitative Research. In: U. Flick, E. Von Kardoff and I. Steine (Eds), A Companion to Qualitative Research, pp. 146.- 152. SAGE, UK, Glasgow.
  9. Flyvbjerg, B., 2006. Five Misunderstandings About CaseStudy Research. Qualitative Inquiry,12(2), 219-245.
  10. Geske, A., Grinfelds, A., 2006. Izglitibas petnieciba. Latvijas Universitates Akademiskais apgads.
  11. Gigerenzer, G., 2004. Mindless Statistics. The Journal of Socio-Economics, Volume 33, Issue 5, pp. 587-606. Elsevier Inc.
  12. GraphPad, 2007. Statistics. GraphPad Software Inc.
  13. Groeben, N., 1986. Handeln, Tun, Verhalten als Einheiten einer verstehend-erklärenden Psychologie. Tübingen: Francke.
  14. Kamau, K., Guandaru, C., Kariuki, Nduati, S., 2012. Factors Influencing Sample Size for Internal Audit Evidence Collection in the Public Sector in Kenya. International Journal of Advances in Management and Economics. Mar.-April. 2012 | Vol.1 | Issue 2|42-49.
  15. Kardoff, E., 2004. Qualitative Evaluation Research. In: U. Flick, E. Von Kardoff and I. Steinke (Eds). A Companion to Qualitative Research, pp. 137-142. SAGE, UK, Glasgow.
  16. Kroplijs, A., Rašcevska, M., 2004. Kvalitativas petniecibas metodes socialajas zinatnes. Riga: RaKa.
  17. Lasmanis, A., 2003.Maksla apstradat datus: pirmie soli. Riga.
  18. Lopez, C., Salmeron, J., 2011. A Framework for Classifying Risks in ERP Maintenance Projects. Proceedings of International Conference on eBusiness (ICE-B 2011), July 18-21, 2011, 201-204. SciTePress - Science and Technology Publications, Seville, Spain.
  19. Luhmann, N., 1988. Erkenntnis als Konstruktion. Bern: Benteli.
  20. Luka, I., 2008. Students and the educator's co-operation as a means of development of students' ESP competence. European Conference on Educational Research, University of Goteborg, Goterborg, Sweden.
  21. Maslo, E., 2007. Transformative Learning Space for LifeLong Foreign Languages Learning. In International Nordic-Baltic Region Conference of FIPLV Innovations in Language Teaching and Learning in the Multicultural Context, 38-46, Riga: SIA "Izglitibas soli". Riga, Latvia.
  22. Mayring, P., 2004. Qualitative Content Analysis. Flick, U., von Kardoff, E., Steinke, I. (Eds.) A Companion to Qualitative Research, pp. 266-269. Glasgow: SAGE.
  23. Mayring, P., 2007. On Generalization in Qualitatively Oriented Research. Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 8(3), Art. 26, 1-8.
  24. McMillan, J. H., 1996. Educational Research Fundamentals for the Consumer. Second Edition. Virginia Commonwealth University, HarperCollins College Publishers.
  25. Mead, G. H., 1973. Geist, Identitat, und Gesselschaft. Frankfurt. A. M.
  26. Okoli, C., Pawlovski, S., 2004. The Delphi Method as a Research Tool: an example, design considerations and applications. Information and Management,42(1), 15- 29.
  27. Parsons, T., 1976. Theorie sozialer Systeme. Opladen: Westdeutscher Verlag.
  28. Phillips, D., 2006. Comparative Education: method. Research in Comparative and International Education, Volume 1, Number 4, 304-319.
  29. Plonsky, M., 1997. Psychological Statistics. Retrieved 31/01.2014 from http://www4.uwsp.edu/psych/stat/10/hyptestc.htm#I1.
  30. Reich, K., 2005. Systemisch-konstruktivistische Pädagogik. Weinheim u.a., Beltz, (2005).
  31. Rudzinska, I., 2008. The Quality of Aim Setting and Achieved Results in English for Specific PurposesStudy Course in Lecturers and Students' Opinion. In Proceedings of the ATEE Spring University Conference Teacher of the 21st Century: Quality Education for Quality Teaching, 366-373. Riga: University of Latvia.
  32. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, 2009. SPSS Exact Test 10.0. Retrieved 12/03/2009 from ftp://ftp.spss.cpm/pub/web/specs/SET10SPC-0799.pdf.
  33. Summers, S., 1991. Selecting the sample for a research study. .J Post Anesth Nurs. 1991 Oct; 6(5):355-8.
  34. Sweeney, D., 2013. Statistics: The Normal Distribution. In Encyclopaedia Britannica.
  35. Taylor, P. C., & Medina, M. N. D., 2013. Educational Research Paradigms: From Positivism to Multiparadigmatic. The Journal of Meaning-Centered Education . Volume 1, Article 2.
  36. Willis, J. W., 2007. Foundations of qualitative research: Interpretive and critical approaches. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
  37. Yin, R., 2005. Case Study Research: Design and Methods (3rd edition). Thousand Oak: SAGE.
Download


Paper Citation


in Harvard Style

Ahrens A. and Zaščerinska J. (2014). A Framework for Selecting Sample Size in Educational Research on e-business Application . In Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on e-Business - Volume 1: ICE-B, (ICETE 2014) ISBN 978-989-758-043-7, pages 39-46. DOI: 10.5220/0005020000390046


in Bibtex Style

@conference{ice-b14,
author={Andreas Ahrens and Jelena Zaščerinska},
title={A Framework for Selecting Sample Size in Educational Research on e-business Application},
booktitle={Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on e-Business - Volume 1: ICE-B, (ICETE 2014)},
year={2014},
pages={39-46},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0005020000390046},
isbn={978-989-758-043-7},
}


in EndNote Style

TY - CONF
JO - Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on e-Business - Volume 1: ICE-B, (ICETE 2014)
TI - A Framework for Selecting Sample Size in Educational Research on e-business Application
SN - 978-989-758-043-7
AU - Ahrens A.
AU - Zaščerinska J.
PY - 2014
SP - 39
EP - 46
DO - 10.5220/0005020000390046