COLLAPSE SUBDISCUSSIONDenisia Dunmore Denisia Dunmore YesterdayJul 21 at 4:05pmManage Discussion Entry Hi Marcus, Good job responding to this last discussion. Do you mind expounding a bit more on the...

Denisia Dunmore

Hi Marcus,

Good job responding to this last discussion. Do you mind expounding a bit more on the concept ofconfirmability and how it can enhance the trustworthiness of qualitative data?

Paulette Morris

What Techniques or Design Processes Would a Qualitative Researcher Include to Mitigate Aspects of Trustworthiness?

Credibility in qualitative research is an intricate aspect of establishing the trustworthiness of the information provided within the research context. Assessing the credibility of qualitative research requires ensuring that the conclusions and data provided within the research are sound regarding applying the methods used for the data collection and the appropriate use of such methods (Noble & Smith 2015). Credibility also depends upon the truthfulness of the conclusion drawn by the researcher. Unlike quantitative research, qualitative research has no scientific approach for determining the validity and reliability of the research. It can be deemed researcher bias because the research may be based solely on a collection of data that depicts the researcher’s opinion (Creswell & Poth, 2017 & Noble & Smith, 2015). Researchers can use approaches or strategies to account for credibility within qualitative research and criteria that can be used to evaluate the research findings' credibility.

To determine the truth value which is the idea that there is a possibility that multiple realities are existent within the research. One criterion to assess credibility in qualitative research is truth value (Carter et al., 2014 & Noble & Smith, 2015). Truth value is when the researcher is aware of the possibility of the presence of multiple realities and depict any perspectives and experiences that may be unique which could have manufactured bias in the methodology, and they depict the viewpoints of their research participants accurately and lucidly (Carter et al., 2014, Cope, 2014 & Creswell & Poth, 2017). Dissimilar to quantitative research, which uses statistical data, making it simpler to discriminate validity and reliability based on generalization, qualitative research has different ways of understanding and identifying credibility and reliability (Creswell & Poth, 2017). The qualitative approach to research relies on conceptualization, qualitative evidence, and the acquisition of the data to promote and foster trustworthiness and credibility in qualitative research. Credibility in the qualitative study focuses on the design of the study.

To be deemed credible, the research design must be trustworthy and plausible. Dependability is an essential aspect of qualitative research that determines credibility and trustworthiness because it depicts to what degree the study can be reproduced within similar contexts. Qualitative research must also demonstrate a clear connection between the data and the outcomes (Creswell & Poth, 2017 & Shenton, 2004). Confirmability in qualitative research studies is the objectivity of the research during the collection and analysis. Congruency between two or more independent persons about the data's accuracy, relevance, or meaning must exist. Conformability also indicates a means to demonstrate quality in qualitative research studies (Creswell & Poth, 2017 & Shenton, 2004). Unlike quantitative research, qualitative research uses a small sample size, thus; making it less possible to concentrate on the generalization of the findings as a means of validity and reliability like in quantitative research. However, because qualitative research is based on the actual accounts of a specific phenomenon, it is more likely that what was discovered is what occurred took place the information within the study is credible.

Transferability in qualitative studies is the extent to which the results can be transferred to other contexts or settings with other participants. Transferability in qualitative studies is synonymous to generalization or external validity in quantitative research studies (Creswell & Poth & Shenton, 2004). To establish transferability in qualitative studies, the researcher provides the readers with evidence that the research findings could apply to other contexts, populations, situations, or settings by using thick descriptions to explain the findings of the research (Cope, 2014 & Creswell & Poth, 2017). Data triangulation and respondent validity are other methods to ensure credibility and validity in qualitative research. Each method is deemed one of the most beneficial approaches to ensuring the validity of a research study (Carter et al., 2014 & Cope, 2014). The internal validity of qualitative research is contingent upon how the research findings match the reality in qualitative studies. Validity is a significant concept in quantitative analysis that must be addressed in the research's relationship to the study's purpose.

The best-known process for validity in qualitative studies is triangulation. Triangulation is a technique that was introduced into qualitative research in the 1950s as a method to eliminate the potential for biases that could occur from using single methodologies in qualitative research studies. Triangulation in qualitative research entails using multiple sources for acquiring data, such as in the study using interviews and observations to obtain the data (Carter et al., 2014 & Heales & Forbes, 2013). Triangulation allows different methods to acquire data, ensuring validity in qualitative research studies. Triangulation is the use of multiple theories, data sources, methods, or investigators when studying a specific phenomenon (Carter et al., 2014 & Heales & Forbes, 2013).). Triangulation in qualitative research entails using more than one approach to research questions. The objective of triangulation is to augment the confidence in the research findings. Confidence in the findings is accomplished by confirming the proposition by employing two or more independent measures within the research. Employing two or more methods is guaranteed to create a rigorous approach that creates a more comprehensive understanding of the results that could not be accomplished by employing either approach independently (Heales & Forbes, 2013). Although triangulation is typically linked to the research methods and designs, there are other variations of triangulation in qualitative research.

However, methodological triangulation is the most common type, in which two or more sets of data are used to collect data using the same methodology. The study may use two different data collection methods. One qualitative method and the other is a quantitative method which allows the limits of each approach to be surpassed by comparing the findings from various perspectives (Heales & Forbes, 2013). Respondent validation is another approach that can be used to ensure trustworthiness in qualitative research studies. Respondent validity is a critical step necessary for ensuring that there is no feasibility of misinterpretation of the meaning of the participant's responses or what was observed during the observation process within the research outcomes (Cope. 2014 & Noble & Smith, 2015). This process relies upon the participants to provide feedback on the preliminary analysis by asking if the interpretation of their responses appears to be accurate and true.

The participants provide information regarding the notion of their responses being reflective of their experiences, which will identify if there is a need to make some adjustments to the research. The participants' feedback outline modifications that could be implemented into the analysis of the data to capture the participants' perspectives better (Cope, 2014 & Noble & Smith, 2015). Triangulation of data or data triangulation will permit the testing of the consistency of the outcomes of the research by using varied instruments, which will augment the ability to control or access the threats of multiple causes that will create a threat to the internal validity of the study (Noble & Smith, 2015). Respondent validation provides reality to the research by asking all participants if their perspectives were correctly recorded and are perceived to be accurate interpretations of their responses. Checking with participants indicates that the information reported in the data findings is authentic and credible. Both strategies are essential to proving the validity presented within the research.

References

Carter, N., Bryant-Lukosius, D., DiCenso, A., Blythe, J., & Neville, A. J. (2014). The use of triangulation in qualitative research.Oncology nursing forum,41(5), 545–547.https://doi.org/10.1188/14.ONF.545-547(Links to an external site.)

Cope, D. G. (2014). Methods and Meanings: Credibility and Trustworthiness of Qualitative Research.Oncology Nursing Forum,41(1), 89–91.https://doi.org/10.1188/14.ONF.89-91(Links to an external site.)

Creswell. J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2017).Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (4th ed).https://redshelf.com(Links to an external site.)

Noble, H., & Smith, J. (2015). Issues of validity and reliability in qualitative research.Evidence-based nursing,18(2), 34-35.

Heale, R. & Forbes, D. (2013). Understanding triangulation in research.Evidence-Based Nursing 16(4),98.http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/eb-2013-101494(Links to an external site.)

Shenton, A. K. (2004). Strategies for ensuring trustworthiness in qualitative research projects.Education for Information,22(2), 63-75.

Renalta Smith

When evaluating the quality of qualitative research, validity and reliability must be kept in mind. Truth is essential in any scientific study but finds its purpose in qualitative research in the form of rigor(Golafshani,2003). Rigor thought that a concept from qualitative research needs to be transferable to other people but also acknowledges that qualitative studies are often subjected to subjectivity and the human element. One way to help show validity in a study is to show its trustworthiness.[Bur] Reliability can also be a challenging criterion for qualitative research. One can examine the trustworthiness of the study in order to find its reliability in other situations. While total data reliability may not be possible due to differences in testing methods and designs, reliability of the data and the collection methods are possible. An essential part of reliability in qualitative research is the transferability of the data to other situations. (Burkholder,2016)Various potential strategies and standards can be used to improve the trustworthiness of qualitative research. Researchers have said that qualitative research's trustworthiness is recognized using four strategies. The strategies are credibility, transferability, dependability, and conformability. The strategy use criteria like reflexivity, triangulation, and dense descriptions. The triangulation is seen as drawing upon numerous data sources, methods, and theoretical ideas, and structure validation as identifying existing constructs instead of imposing principles. The discussion section of a qualitative paper should include an interpretation of the results and recommendations for the procedure. Interpretations should go beyond the literal description of observed behaviors, patterns, and themes from analysis (Johnson, 2020).

Thanks,

Renalta

References

Burkholder, G., & Burbank, P. (2016). Philosophical Foundations and the Role of Theory in Research. In G. Burkholder, K. Cox, & L. Crawford, The Scholar-Practioner's Guide to Research Design. Baltimore, MD: Laureate.

Golafshani, N. (2003). Understanding Reliability and Validity in Qualitative Research. The Qualitative Report.

Johnson, J. L., Adkins, D., & Chauvin, S. (2020). A Review of the Quality Indicators of Rigor in Qualitative Research.American journal of pharmaceutical education,84(1), 7120. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe7120