Unit 4: Ch. 17

Question 1

what is the quality criteria we discussed in class?

Answer 1

Lincoln and Guba quality criteria

-most studies look at this criteria

Question 2

Lincoln and Guba framework

Answer 2

key goal: trustworthiness

encompasses 5 criteria:

• 1. credibility
• 2. dependability
• 3. confirmability
• 4. transferability
• 5. authenticity

Question 3

what is the purpose of quality criteria?

Answer 3

to establish trustworthiness in the quality of the research that is conducted; equivalent to quality criteria or measures of rigor used in quantitative studies

Question 4

trustworthiness

Answer 4

concerns truth value or truth of qualitative data, analysis of data, and interpretation of data
-establishing trustworthiness is the counterpart of establishing reliability and validity of instruments’ objectivity and data collection methods, minimizing bias…

Question 5

trustworthiness includes? (5)

Answer 5

1. credibility
2. dependability
3. confirmability
4. authenticity
5. transferability

no point in using info from an article if it isn’t trustworthy

Question 6

credibility

Answer 6

the confidence and the truth of the data in interpretations of the data

analogous to internal validity in quantitative research, that is, the degree to which the IV or tx and not an extraneous variable is responsible for the outcome or DV

may be the most important criterion for assessing the quality and integrity of a qualitative inquiry

ask yourself, “Is what I’m reading true?”

Question 7

dependability

Answer 7

the stability of data over time and over conditions

the analog of reliability in quantitative research

• reliability = consistency (is the concept measuring the same thing each and every time?)
• ask yourself: “Is what I’m reading dependable now and in the future? Is it dependable now and will it be dependable tomorrow?”

Question 8

confirmability

Answer 8

refers to neutrality - the potential for congruence between 2 or more people about data accuracy, relevance, or meaning
-if it’s true for 1 person, is it true for another person?

analogous to objectivity in quantitative research

ask yourself: “Does the info in this article seem fair, balanced, and reasonable?”

Question 9

transferability

Answer 9

the extent to which findings can be transferred to other settings or groups

the analog of generalizability or external validity in quantitative research

ask yourself: “Would this info transfer or be applicable to other settings or groups?”

Question 10

which of the following is the key goal of the Lincoln and Guba framework?

a. dependability
b. credibility
c. trustworthiness
d. confirmability

Answer 10

c. trustworthiness
- rationale: the key goal of Lincoln and Guba is trustworthiness, which encompasses dependability, credibility, confirmability, transferability, and authenticity

Question 11

authenticity

Answer 11

the extent to which researchers fairly and faithfully show a range of different realities and convey the feeling or feeling tone of participants’ lives as they are lived
-readers vicariously feel the experience of the participants that they read about in each report

NO equivalent in quantitative research

Question 12

strategies to enhance quality during data collection (8)

Answer 12

1. Prolonged Engagement: investing sufficient time to have in-depth understanding of participants or their experiences
2. Persistent Observation: intensive focus on the salience (importance or relevance) of the data being gathered
3. Reflexivity Strategies: attending to the researchers influence on the data; researcher must pay attention to what their influence is on the data (how are they influencing participants, data being gathered…?)
4. Triangulation
   - Data: use of multiple data sources to validate conclusions
   - ->may be done through time, person, or space triangulation
   - Method: use of multiple methods of data collection to study the same phenomena
   - ->ex: using self report and observations, using qualitative and quantitative methods
5. comprehensive and vivid recording of info
6. Audit Trail: systematic collection of documentation and materials that’s kept during data collection
   - “keeping records of what you’re doing, when you’re doing it, and why you’re doing it”
   - may be kept on ongoing basis or kept at particular decision points (really depends on the research that’s being conducted in terms of which one is being used)
7. Decision Trail: specifies decision rules and decision points during data collection; may be considered separate things or things that are done all at the same time
8. Member Checking: provides feedback to participants about emerging interpretations and obtaining reactions
   - going back to participants to confirm that what you thought you understood you did understand and understood it correctly

Question 13

strategies to enhance quality during coding and analysis (after data has been collected) (6)

Answer 13

1. Triangulation
   - Investigator: use of 2 or more researchers to make data coding analytic and interpretive decisions
   - Theory: use of competing theories, hypotheses, or conceptualizations in the analysis and interpretation of the data
2. Stepwise Replication: head researcher divides research team into 2 groups to undertake parallel analyses and interpretations that are then captured
   - each team interprets, codes, and analyzes data separately. Then they get back together to see if their coding and analyses come to the same conclusions
3. Disconfirming Evidence: search for disconfirming evidence as the analyses proceeds through the purposive and theoretical sampling of cases that challenge interpretations
   - researcher is looking for instances that disagree with what they appear to be finding
4. Negative Case Analysis: specific search for cases that appear to discredit earlier hypotheses
   - idea here is to continuously refine hypothesis or theory until it accounts for all of the cases (looking for negative case analysis)
5. Peer Review and Debriefing: sessions with other researchers specifically designed to elicit critical feedback
6. Inquiry Audit: formal scrutiny of the data and relevant supporting documents and decision by an external reviewer
   - a little like peer review but it’s w/ someone completely unrelated to the research, and the person may be completely unknown to the researcher

Question 14

strategies to enhance presentation

Answer 14

thick and contextualized description: vivid portrayal of study participants, their context, and the phenomenon under study

researcher credibility: enhancing confidence by sharing relevant aspects of the researcher’s experience, credentials, and motivation about the study, during the study, whatever is relevant regarding the researcher

Question 15

T/F: Persistent observation is a quality-enhancement strategy useful for coding and analysis.

Answer 15

false

-rationale: persistent observation is a quality-enhancement strategy useful while generating data.

Question 16

interpretation of qualitative findings

Answer 16

interpretation in qualitative inquiry aims to find meaning in the data. It relies on adequate time for:

• incubation
• self-reflection (reflexivity)
• creativity

qualitative research also considers:

• credibility: are these results believable?
• meaning
• importance: are these results trivial or are these findings important?
• transferability: do results apply to other situations?
• implications: what might the next step be as far as research is concerned? How can these findings be used in patient care?

Question 17

incubation

Answer 17

process of living the data. Researchers need time to understand the data, find meaning in the data, find patterns and draw conclusions about the data. Also need time to self-reflect and consider their own world views. Need time and calmness to be creative about the data (discover new ways of viewing the data and what may be imbedded in the data that the researcher didn’t see before)

cannot rush the incubation step/processes