Morrow, 2005: Quality and Trustworthiness in Qualitative Research

Question 1

credibility (vs. internal validity)

Answer 1

refers to the idea of internal consistency, where the core issue is “how we ensure rigor in the research process and how we communicate to others that we have done so”

Question 2

transferability (vs. external validity or generalizability)

Answer 2

refers to the extent to which the reader is able to generalize the findings of a study to her or his own context and addresses the core issue of “how far a researcher may make claims for a general application of their theory”

Question 3

dependability (vs. reliability)

Answer 3

deals with the core issue that “the way in which a study is conducted should be consistent across time, researchers, and analysis techniques”

Question 4

confirmability (vs. objectivity)

Answer 4

is based on the acknowledgment that research is never objective. It addresses the core issue that “findings should represent, as far as is (humanly) possible, the situation being researched rather than the beliefs, pet theories, or biases of the researcher

Question 5

Trustworthiness in post-positivist qualitative research is comprised of these 4…

Answer 5

1. credibility (vs. internal validity)
2. transferability (vs. external validity or generalizability)
3. dependability (vs. reliability)
4. confirmability (vs. objectivity)

Question 6

Fairness

Answer 6

demands that different constructions be solicited and honored

Question 7

ontological authenticity

Answer 7

participants’ individual constructions are improved, matured, expanded, and elaborated

Question 8

Educative authenticity

Answer 8

requires that participants’ understandings of and appreciation for the constructions of others be enhanced.

Question 9

Catalytic authenticity

Answer 9

speaks to the extent to which action is stimulated

Question 10

Trustworthiness in constructivist/interpretivist research is comprised of (4)

Answer 10

1. Fairness
2. ontological authenticity
3. Educative authenticity
4. Catalytic authenticity

Question 11

consequential validity

Answer 11

1. component of trustworthiness in postmodern, ideological, and critical research 2. assesses the success with which research achieves its goals of social and political change

Question 12

• Ways to reduce subjectivity and strive towards fairness

Answer 12

1. One tradition that has become a standard in qualitative research is that of making one’s implicit assumptions and biases overt to self and others.
2. Reflexivity, as “self-awareness and agency within that self-awareness” is another tradition. Examples include journaling and consulting research team members.
3. Representation is yet another tradition and deals with questions about whose reality is represented in the research

Question 13

Five major types of evidentiary adequacy (adequacy of evidence):

Answer 13

1. adequate amounts of evidence
2. adequate variety in kinds of evidence
3. interpretive status of evidence
4. adequate disconfirming evidence
5. adequate discrepant case analysis.

Question 14

Guidelines for writing and publishing in qualitative research

Answer 14

1. owning one’s perspective
2. situating the sample
3. grounding in examples
4. providing credibility checks
5. coherence
6. accomplishing general versus specific research tasks
7. resonating with readers