Paper IIIPaper III

Qualitative research

Qualitative research

methodology

methodology

Objective 1.7

Objective 1.7

Explain the importance of

Explain the importance of CredibilityCredibility in in

Qualitative Research.

Qualitative Research.

• Because of the Because of the subjective subjective nature nature of qualitative of qualitative methods, researchers have methods, researchers have looked to develop ways in looked to develop ways in which trustworthiness can which trustworthiness can be applied to this type of be applied to this type of researchresearch

• E.G. Guba (1981) has E.G. Guba (1981) has investigated the investigated the trustworthinesstrustworthiness of of naturalistic inquiries.naturalistic inquiries.B

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• The aim of trustworthiness in a The aim of trustworthiness in a qualitative inquiry is to support qualitative inquiry is to support the argument that the inquiry’s the argument that the inquiry’s findings are “worth paying findings are “worth paying attention to” (Lincoln & Guba, attention to” (Lincoln & Guba, 1981, p.290). 1981, p.290).

• This is quite different from the This is quite different from the conventional experimental conventional experimental (quantitative) precedent of (quantitative) precedent of attempting to show validity, attempting to show validity, soundness, and significance.soundness, and significance.

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Trustworthiness in qualitative Trustworthiness in qualitative research.research.

In any qualitative research project, In any qualitative research project, four four criteria for trustworthiness criteria for trustworthiness demand demand attention: attention: •a) credibility (in preference to internal validity);

•b) transferability (in preference to external validity/generalisability);

•c) dependability (in preference to reliability);

•d) confirmability (in preference to objectivity).

For this objective, we will only explain For this objective, we will only explain credibility credibility (although it is important to (although it is important to note to the reader that credibility is one note to the reader that credibility is one of four ways of ensuring of four ways of ensuring trustworthinesstrustworthiness))

Objective 1.7

Objective 1.7

Explain the importance of

Explain the importance of

CredibilityCredibility in Qualitative

in Qualitative

Research.Research.

• One of the key criteria addressed by quantitative research is that of internal validity, in which one seeks to ensure that their study measures or tests what is actually intended.

• According to researchers, the According to researchers, the qualitative investigator’s qualitative investigator’s equivalent concept, i.e. equivalent concept, i.e. credibility,credibility, deals with the deals with the question, question, “How congruent are “How congruent are the findings with reality?”the findings with reality?”

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• Lincoln and Guba argue that ensuring credibility is one of most important factors in establishing trustworthiness.

• The credibility criteria involves establishing that the results of qualitative research are credible or believable from the perspective of the participant in the research. D

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• The credibility criteria involves establishing that the results of qualitative research are credible or believable from the perspective of the participant in the research. 

• Since from this perspective, the purpose of qualitative research is to describe or understand the phenomena of interest from the participant's eyes, the participants are the only ones who can legitimately judge the credibility of the results.

• Lincoln and Guba argue that ensuring credibility is one of most important factors in establishing trustworthiness.

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CredibilityCredibility

What happens when a

What happens when a

“source” loses it credibility.

“source” loses it credibility.

• It is of tremendous It is of tremendous importance for qualitative importance for qualitative research to be research to be “believable”. “believable”.

• If the raw data represents If the raw data represents inconsistent beliefs or inconsistent beliefs or biased views, then the biased views, then the research loses ground. research loses ground.

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• The assumption is if your The assumption is if your research is not research is not credible credible (internally valid) it cannot (internally valid) it cannot be be accuratelyaccurately transferabletransferable (externally valid).(externally valid).

• Credibility adds “truth Credibility adds “truth value” to qualitative value” to qualitative research.research.

• Truth value Truth value is perhaps the is perhaps the most important criterion for most important criterion for the assessment of the assessment of qualitative research.qualitative research.

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• A number of A number of methodological strategies methodological strategies are required to ensure are required to ensure strong credibility.strong credibility.

• TriangulationTriangulation is the single is the single most important method most important method that ensures credibility in that ensures credibility in qualitative research.qualitative research.

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Tomorrow…Tomorrow…

Objective 1.8

Objective 1.8

Explain the Explain the effect of triangulation

effect of triangulation on on

the credibility/trustworthiness of

the credibility/trustworthiness of

qualitative research

qualitative research

..