How many interviews or focus groups are enough?
| Published date | 01 September 2024 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/1035719X241266964 |
| Author | Kizzy Gandy |
| Date | 01 September 2024 |
| Subject Matter | Practice Article |
Practice Article
Evaluation Journal of Australasia
2024, Vol. 24(3) 211–223
© The Author(s) 2024
Article reuse guidelines:
sagepub.com/journals-permissions
DOI: 10.1177/1035719X241266964
journals.sagepub.com/home/evj
How many interviews or focus
groups are enough?
Kizzy Gandy
Verian, Australia
Abstract
When it comes to qualitative evaluation data, is more always better and what de-
termines value for money? This article proposes two steps for evaluators and those
responsible for procuring evaluations to answer the question ‘how many interviews or
focus groups are enough?’Step 1 is to consider the nature of the evaluation question to
determine the sampling goal, importance of thematic saturation, and an appropriate
sampling strategy. The article provides guidance on how many interviews and focus
groups are needed to achieve different levels of thematic saturation based on empir ical
tests in the published literature. Step 2 is to check the skills of the evaluator, including
whether they integrate behavioural science into their discussion guide and analysis to
mitigate bias. This will determine –regardless of the number of interviews and focus
groups –whether they will be able to generate useful insights for decision-making from
the data. The article concludes that it is not sufficient to assess an evaluation plan’s value
for money by sample size alone and consideration also must be given to the char-
acteristics of the evaluation design and the skills of the evaluators undertaking the
project.
Keywords
qualitative sample size, focus groups, interviews, value for money, thematic saturation
Corresponding author:
Kizzy Gandy, National Director, Program Evaluation, Verian, 320 Pitt Street, Sydney, NSW 2000,
Australia.
Email: kizzy.gandy@veriangroup.com
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