How to improve sampling in medium-sized studies using designs with mixed methods? Contributions from the field of elite studies

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to address some recurrent and alternative problems for the sample design of medium-sized populations in the field of elite studies. The paper starts from the classical debate of the two great types of sampling based on the qualitative and quantitative methodological-paradigms. A brief review aims to show the existence of a study area of samples of medium size (between 90 and 300-390 cases) where the boundaries between both becomes blurred and therefore it is pertinent to discuss the possibility of using samples with methods mixed The field of study of the elites is presented as a fertile area for the development of mixed methods and in particular in the sampling procedure. Finally, some contributions from the experience and practice of research in the field of political and economic elites are described to solve and look for alternatives to improve samples in medium-sized populations, namely: a) the specification of objective criteria in the empirical construction of the object of study, b) the application of expert judgment for the validation of the sample, c) the use of expert peers as a research instrument.