ABSTRACT
Theoretical sampling of data collection is controlled by the emerging theory, whether substantive or formal. The initial decisions for theoretical collection of data are based only on a general sociological perspective and on a general subject or problem area. It is important to contrast theoretical sampling based on the saturation of categories with statistical (random) sampling. Their differences should be kept clearly in mind for both designing research and judging its credibility. The researcher who generates theory need not combine random sampling with theoretical sampling when setting forth relationships among categories and properties. These relationships are suggested as hypotheses pertinent to direction of relationship, not tested as descriptions of both direction and magnitude. Theoretical sampling requires only collecting data on categories, for the generation of properties and hypotheses. Theoretical sampling and data collection for discovering theory become simultaneous, whether the sociologist uses collected data or collects his own data, or both.
