Chapter 24 Trustworthiness and Integrity in Qualitative Research

Question Tell whether the following statement is true or false: There relative few controversies surround the issue of quality in qualitative studies.

Answer False Several controversies surround the issue of quality in qualitative studies, one of which involves terminology.

Controversies Surrounding the Issue of Quality in Qualitative Studies Issue of rigor and validity Criteria to use as indicators of validity or integrity Generic versus study-specific criteria Strategies to use to address quality criteria Prevailing perspective (researchers or external critics)

Question Tell whether the following statement is true or false: The most-often used framework of quality criteria is that of Lincoln and Guba, who identified four criteria for evaluating the trustworthiness of the inquiry.

Answer False The most-often used framework of quality criteria is that of Lincoln and Guba, who identified five criteria for evaluating the trustworthiness of the inquiry: credibility, dependability, confirmability, transferability, and (added to their framework at a later date) authenticity.

Assessing Data Quality in Qualitative Studies: Trustworthiness Concerns the “truth value” of qualitative data and qualitative analysis Encompasses four criteria: Credibility Dependability Confirmability Transferability

Credibility Refers to confidence in the truth of the data and interpretations of them Methods of enhancing and evaluating credibility: Prolonged engagement Persistent observation Triangulation (data, investigator, theory, method)

Credibility (cont’d) Methods of enhancing and evaluating credibility (cont’d): Peer debriefing Member checking Searching for disconfirming evidence Researcher credibility 

Dependability Refers to stability of data over time and over conditions Methods of assessing dependability: Stepwise replication Inquiry audit

Confirmability Refers to the objectivity of the data—the potential for congruence between two or more people about data accuracy, relevance, or meaning Methods of assessing confirmability: Inquiry audit Audit trail

Transferability The extent to which findings can be transferred to other settings or groups (analogous to generalizability) Potential for transferability enhanced by thick description

Question Tell whether the following statement is true or false: Integrity refers to the researcher’s critical appraisal of every research decision.

Answer False Criticality refers to the researcher’s critical appraisal of every research decision. Integrity is demonstrated by ongoing self-scrutiny to enhance the likelihood that interpretations are valid and grounded in the data.

Ten Qualitative Validity Schemes Four Primary: Credibility Authenticity Criticality Integrity Six secondary: Explicitness, vividness, creativity, thoroughness, congruence, and sensitivity

Validity Schemes Criticality researcher’s critical appraisal of every research decision. Integrity demonstrated by ongoing self-scrutiny to enhance the likelihood that interpretations are valid and grounded in the data. Explicitness is the ability to follow the researcher’s decisions through careful documentation. Vividness involves rich and vivid descriptions.

Validity Schemes(Cont.) Creativity reflects challenges to traditional ways of thinking. Throroughness comprehensive data and the full development of ideas. Congruence is interconnectedness between parts of the inquiry and the whole, and between study findings and external contexts. Sensitivity, degree to which an inquiry reflects respect and compassion for those being studied.

Quality of Qualitative Data Prolonged engagement strives for adequate scope of data coverage Persistent observation aimed at achieving adequate depth; reflexivity; comprehensive and vivid recording of information Triangulation: Data triangulation Method triangulation Member checking

Strategies for Enhancing Quality During the Coding and Analysis Investigator triangulation Theory triangulation Stepwise replication Search for disconfirming evidence Search for rival explanations Negative case analysis Peer debriefings Inquiry audit

Strategies Relating to Presentation Disclosure of quality enhancement strategies Thick and contextualized description Researcher credibility

Development of a Quality-Minded Outlook—Commitments Transparency Thoroughness Verification Reflexivity Participant-driven inquiry Insightful interpretation