ABSTRACT
As evident in many practical handbooks on research methods and methodology in language learning research, the subject of sampling has received little attention, and it is treated as a relatively non-problematic part of the research process. However, sampling is quite a complex and sophisticated matter with significant implications on not only in terms of the research process, but also for the outcome of the study. The aim of this chapter is thus to develop a basic understanding and awareness of the debates involved in making sampling decisions. First, the chapter opens by providing a brief overview towards the common understanding of the concept of sampling dominant in present language education, namely, the quantitative and qualitative approaches. It will then illustrate how the various sampling strategies are understood and employed in these traditions, and then draw attention to the pros and cons associated in employing them in the research design. The chapter concludes by discussing the issues and challenges in making sampling decisions by referring to the author’s own research experience where matters of power, rapport, and the identities of both the researcher and the participant are brought to the foreground and calls for a more socially informed approach to sampling.
