1. Chapter 24 Trustworthiness and Integrity in Qualitative Research

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

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

4. 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)

5. 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.

6. 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.

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

8. 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)

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

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

11. 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

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

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

14. 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.

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

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. 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

19. 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

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

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