Microsoft Word 2007 ichrie conference Proceedings Final-Final 06-06-07. doc

METHOD 
Setting and Subjects 
In order to maximize external validity, respondents were current residents living in LORCs in the state of 
New South Wales in Australia. Retirement community sites were selected using maximum variation sampling 
(Patton, 1990). In maximum variation sampling, research sites are chosen to maximize the diversity in the 
respondent pool, based on a number of factors relevant to the qualitative inquiry. In this case, the relevant factors 
included the size of the community (in terms of living units), the age of the community, and whether the retirement 
community was for-profit or not-for-profit (Stimson et al., 2002b). 
Consistent with Rynes et al. (1991), the appropriate diversity of characteristics was achieved with the 
assistance of individuals with proximity to the target population. In this case, the Retirement Village Association 
(RVA) of New South Wales, which is the leading professional association for retirement communities, was in the 
best position to nominate communities that represented the variety of desired characteristics. The RVA nominated 4 
communities with the requisite characteristics and all 4 communities agreed to participate. The 4 communities are 
herein referred to as Communities A, B, C, and D. 
It would appear that the sample was diverse in terms of all of the desired characteristics. Community A was 
a for-profit retirement community owned and managed by a large, publicly-held company. The village consists of 
133 independent living units (i.e. apartments and/or villas) and 20 serviced apartments (i.e. assisted living units), and 
is 17 years old. Community B was a 4-year old, for-profit, privately-owned retirement community made up of 71 
independent living units. Community C was a 46-year old, not-for-profit community, made up of 775 units, which is 
owned and operated by a church organization, and operates as a not-for-profit organization. Community D was an 

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