SIZE OF SAMPLE:

Large  samples are more  representative  of the population of interest than the sinall  samples. There  are no specific  rdes for determining the desired sample size.  If the researcher  uses  the probability  sampling method  smaller samples are needed than non probability  sampling. 

A  sample size of minimum  30 will  be  adequate according  Poscoe  (1975), but it can  bc  as  large  100, 500,  1000, etc. Most nursing studies are  limited  to  small convenient samples. Generalization to total population is usually difficult to make with any degree  of confidence. The use of  small  samples dictates the need  for  studies  to  be  replicated. If several investigators find similar results, generalization  to other population  are more appropriate.