reliability validity and trustworthiness in qualitative research

The naturalistic researcher does not maintain that knowledge gained from one context will have relevance for other contexts or for the same context in another time frame. The naturalistic researcher maintains that no true generalization is really possible all observations are defined by the specific contexts in which they occur.

Most contemporary researchers view applicability in terms of generalizability and address the issue by focusing on those aspects of the inquiry that do not shift. (extent to which the findings can be applied in other contexts or with other respondents) assesses the overall adequacy of the data in addition to individual data points creates an opportunity to summarize which is the first step to data analysisį.

provides additional volunteer informationĮ. Member Checks (Go to the source of the information and check both the data and the interpretation.)Ī. Peer Debriefing (This is done with a similar status colleague (not with a junior or senior peer) who is outside the context of the study and who has a general understanding of the nature of the study and with whom you can review perceptions, insights, and analyses.)Ħ. Referential adequacy (What materials are available to document your findings? Video tape provides a good record but it can be obtrusive.)ĥ.

Triangulation(The best way to elicit the various and divergent constructions of reality that exist within the context of a study is to collect information about different events and relationships from different points of view.)Ĥ. Search for what counts and what doesn’t count.)ģ. Persistent Observations(Consistently pursue interpretations in different ways in conjunction with a process of constant and tentative analysis. compensates for effects of unusual or seasonal eventsĢ. counters distortions from researcher’s impact on the contextĬ.

Prolonged Engagement (Stay in the field until data saturation occurs.)Ī. (Is there compatibility between the constructed realities that exist in the minds of the inquiry’s respondents and those that are attributed to them?)ġ. Just as a quantitative study cannot be valid unless it is reliable, a qualitative study cannot be transferable unless it is credible, and it cannot be credible unless it is dependable.Ĭriteria defined from one perspective may not be appropriate for judging actions taken from another perspective.

Reliability validity and trustworthiness in qualitative research