Week 11: Rigor, critique and presenting qualitative research

What is validity in research?

The property of particular statements being sound, legitimate, and authoritative.

→ Ensuring findings accurately reflect participants’ experiences

What does evaluating validity in qualitative research involve?

Assessing how well the research has been carried out and whether the findings are trustworthy and useful.

What study involved feline reactions to bearded men?

A study that exposed cats to men with different beards to determine their reactions.

→ Used findings to determine whether cat liked the male

What are some approaches in qualitative research?

Thematic Analysis, Grounded Theory, Narrative Analysis, Discourse Analysis.

What is the quantitative perspective on validity?

Focuses on objectivity, unbiased observation, reliability, and generalisability of findings.

Name some procedures for enhancing validity in qualitative research

-Triangulation

-Member checks

-Peer de-briefing

-Disconfirming case analysis

-Audit trail

-Immersion in the setting

-Thick Description

-Reflexivity

The Mind Prefers Data And Information To Reason

What is triangulation in qualitative research?

The combination of methods in studying the same phenomena to enhance validity.

What is member checking?

A process where participants provide feedback on the analysis to enhance credibility.

What does peer debriefing involve?

Comparing the researcher's coding with others to ensure consistency and multiple perspectives.

What is disconfirming case analysis?

Identifying and examining data that does not fit emerging patterns to understand limitations.

What is an audit trail?

A record linking raw data to the final report, allowing retracing of all steps taken.

• Helps to establish transferability and confirmability

What does immersion in the setting mean?

Prolonged engagement where the researcher becomes less visible, leading to more realistic behaviours.

→ Common in ethnography/observation studies

What is thick description?

A holistic description providing in-depth detail regarding interviews and analysis.

What is reflexivity in qualitative research?

Making explicit the research process and acknowledging how personal interests influence research.

• The content of research can be judged in the context of the perspectives and assumptions by which it was shaped.

→ Ongoing process by which researchers examine their own beliefs, biases, values and experiences and how these influence every stage of the research

What is sensitivity to context in qualitative research?

Providing a holistic description considering theoretical and empirical literature and ethical considerations.

• Taking into account characteristics of researcher, research setting and perspective and socio-cultural context of participants

What does coherence and transparency refer to?

The extent to which the research makes sense as a whole and how well the process is communicated.

• The fit between: The theoretical approach, the research question, the methods employed and the interpretation of the data

• How well the reader can see exactly what was done and why

What is the impact and performance of qualitative research?

The potential to make a difference in theoretical and practical contexts.

What should be considered when presenting findings to a lay audience?

Clear, concise messages, colloquial language, and bullet points focusing on implications.

What is the basic rule of writing for academic audiences?

Use formal academic tone, discipline-specific language, and structured format.

What is the structure of an academic report?

6 sections

Title, Abstract, Literature Review, Method, Findings, Discussion.

Tall Ants Love Making Fresh Desserts

Why are participant quotes important in qualitative research?

They illustrate themes, provide evidence for interpretations, and establish trustworthiness.

What should be included when using quotes in research?

Contextual information and enough text for the reader to understand the participant's meaning.

What is the significance of an abstract in an academic report?

It provides a brief summary of the work, typically written last.

What is the role of the literature review in research?

It sets the scene for the study and provides the rationale for the research.

What is the importance of the discussion section in an academic report?

It locates findings within the wider literature, discusses limitations, and suggests further work.