How many interviews are enough

What is it about?

This paper looks at established practice regarding the reporting, justification and number of interview participants that are likely to be considered sufficient for qualitative research. Acknowledging exceptions, dependent upon study purpose and data saliency, we recommend a norm of 15−60 participants, alongside credible numbers for planning interview research. We also offer recommendations for the reporting and justification of the number of interviews.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

The question "How many interviews are enough" is often asked but, prior to this research, there has been little research to establish the answer by drawing upon published research. There is also a paucity of discussion across the social sciences, the topic receiving far less attention than its centrality warrants.