Criterios de diseño para la iluminación natural del

Sample size in qualitative research remains a much discussed question which relates to the earlier discussion around validity and appraisal of qualitative research. Saturation is the guiding principle in qualitative research; generating data to the point at which you are no longer generating anything that sheds new light on your research question (Glaser and Strauss, 1967). This can be judged, to some extent, by coding data alongside data generation. It is quite straightforward to note when new codes are no longer added. Two reflections on sample size are considered here. First, Guest et al (2006), who revisited a dataset from a qualitative study involving 60 interviews and re-analysed the data to pin down when they had reached data saturation. They found that all codes had been developed by interview 12 and after six interviews, only one additional code was added. I did not have this experience with my interviews and found new codes were developed with virtually all the interviews.

Mason (2010) analysed 560 PhD theses that used qualitative interviewing and found that the majority of sample sizes were multiples of 10. The author suggests that this either reflects a lack of understanding by doctoral students of qualitative methods or is an indication of the tyranny of ethics committees; being forced to provide a sample size in advance of conducting research may lead researchers to stick to this sample size regardless of when data saturation is reached. Over-interviewing is, of course, both inefficient and ethically questionable in terms of taking up participants’time when their data may not add anything to the study. I conducted 20 interviews during my fieldwork although I did not have a pre-set number in mind. I did, however, want to develop a rich, deep and, in Geertz’s terms, ‘thick’ set of data from the field.

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I did not have any specific sample criteria other than the participants had to be residents of the estate (but no particular length of residency was required) and I aimed for a diverse sample of participants. The project participants for the semi-structured interviews were recruited from residents who live on Blackbird and Greater Leys. To recruit my participants I utilised my knowledge and familiarity with the estate and the networks I had developed over the last twenty years of working on and with people from this area. I did not, however, recruit directly from organisations I have contact with or individuals personally known to me. Rather than interview people I knew or knew of I asked people I did know to suggest other individuals I might contact and who might be willing or interested in participating in my study. After initial contact was made with these potential participants I would contact them either by telephone, email or in person to explain the scope and aims of the study, the nature of the questions in the semi-structured interviews and the commitment to anonymity and control potential participants would have over any transcripts produced. A small number of people (five), having gone through this initial process decided not to participate in the study. I also recruited participants while conducting my fieldwork on the estate though spontaneous contact with people in the community centre, sports centre and other public spaces who I met through casual conversation, introductions from other participants and those whose interest was sparked by my presence on the estate. Once again, after initial contact was made, I would explain the details and background of the study and show the potential participant the interview schedule. Once again a small number of people declined to take part after initial discussions but most were interested in participating and although I did not interview all potential participants (due to time constraints, theirs and mine) I was able to successfully recruit without much difficulty from across a range of ages, genders and ethnicities (see Table One).

124 Name Gender Employment

Status10

Age Ethnicity11 Relationsh -ip status12 Children Rachel F R 64 WB W Y Martha F R 60 WB M Y Jack M E(p/t) 61 WB M Y Sara F IS/HB 35 MBC S Y Liz F E(p/t) 47 WB M Y Mike M E 50 BC M Y Susan F E 34 WB M N Iz F S 19 BA S N Rosie F E 31 BC LTR Y Les M JSA 52 WB D Y Mags F IS/HB 40 OW S Y Joel M R 67 BC M N Ulla F E(p/t) 33 WB LTR Y Will M E 28 MBC LTR N Jan F E(p/t) 32 WB M Y Geoff M E 27 BC LTR Y Tina F E(p/t) 32 WB LTR Y Ella F IS/HB 41 WI S Y Charles M DLA/HB 57 WB M N Ronnie M JSA/HB 20 WB S N

10_{Key: Employment Status – DLA = Disability Living Allowance; E = Employed; E(p/t) = Employed part-} time; HB = Housing Benefit; IS = Income Support; R = Retired; JSA = Job Seekers Allowance; S = Student. 11 _{KEY: Ethnic catergories replicate those used in the 2011 Census (England). Therefore WB = White British;} BC = Black Caribbean; BA = Black African; M = Mixed or Multiple (MBA = White and Black African, MBC = White and Black Caribbean), WI = White Irish; OW = Other White.

125 4.8 The Interviews.

Participants were interviewed by myself over a period of ten months on the Leys either in people’s homes or in the community centre, the IT Hub or the Sports Centre. All but one of the participants agreed to have the interview recorded on a digital recorder. Nineteen interviews were fully transcribed by a transcriber and I took extensive notes on the remaining interview where the participant did not wish to be recorded. The interviews ranged from forty-five minutes to an hour and half in length and averaged just over an hour. I used a combination of asking participants to talk openly about their experiences of living on the Leys and a semi structured interview guide (see appendix two) which I produced based on my review of the literature in this area and my own knowledge and experience. This guide was revised slightly as early interviews raised new points to cover. These changes included the introduction of a section of more detailed questions about the nature of the community (section three of the topic guide), community leaders (also section three) and I removed some topic themes around disorganisation and disorder as these appeared to be both confusing for some participants and I was also concerned that these questions were a little leading. I also revised the section on experiences of the local authority and other agencies and the experiences of ‘regeneration initiatives’ in order to make these sections more open and less detailed. I was keen not to direct participants too much and encouraged them to talk openly about their experiences.