Week 12: Establishing Quality: Trustworthiness and Validity Flashcards
- What term is used in qualitative research to represent reliability in quantitative research?
o A. Credibility
o B. Dependability
o C. Confirmability
o D. Authenticity
B. Dependability
Rationale: In qualitative research, dependability parallels reliability in quantitative research. It refers to the consistency and stability of the research process over time, ensuring the findings are repeatable under similar conditions.
- Which strategy ensures the researcher’s interpretation of participants’ words aligns with their intended meaning?
o A. Reflexivity
o B. Member Checking
o C. Triangulation
o D. Audit Trail
Correct Answer: B. Member Checking
Rationale: Member checking involves returning to participants to verify that the researcher’s interpretations accurately reflect their intended meaning. This process enhances the credibility of qualitative research.
What is the primary purpose of bracketing in qualitative research?
o A. To eliminate researcher bias
o B. To ensure data saturation
o C. To analyze data systematically
o D. To set aside prior assumptions
What is the primary purpose of bracketing in qualitative research?
Correct Answer: D. To set aside prior assumptions
Rationale: Bracketing helps researchers suspend their personal biases and preconceptions to focus purely on the participants’ perspectives, ensuring the data are not influenced by the researcher’s assumptions.
How can saturation in qualitative research be recognized?
o A. By achieving consistency in coding
o B. By not finding new themes or patterns during data collection
o C. By replicating the study in another context
o D. By verifying data through member checking
How can saturation in qualitative research be recognized?
Correct Answer: B. By not finding new themes or patterns during data collection
Rationale: Saturation is achieved when additional data no longer generate new information, themes, or patterns, indicating sufficient depth has been reached in the research.
Which of the following strategies demonstrates rigour in qualitative research after project completion?
o A. Triangulation with subsequent research
o B. Reflexivity during data analysis
o C. Using thick descriptions
o D. Member checking
Correct Answer: C. Using thick descriptions
Rationale: Thick descriptions provide rich, detailed accounts of the research context, allowing readers to assess the transferability of findings to other contexts. This demonstrates rigour post-completion.
What is the major thrust of qualitative research?
o A. Deduction
o B. Induction
o C. Verification
o D. Generalization
Correct Answer: B. Induction
Rationale: Qualitative research primarily relies on inductive reasoning, where patterns and themes emerge from the data rather than being predefined, allowing for an in-depth exploration of phenomena.
In ensuring rigour, what does the audit trail document?
o A. Theoretical saturation
o B. Researcher’s reflexivity
o C. Research decisions and events
o D. Methods used to code data
Correct Answer: C. Research decisions and events
Rationale: An audit trail documents the researcher’s decisions, methods, and processes, providing transparency and allowing others to evaluate the dependability of the study.
Why is it problematic to use a rigid conceptual framework in qualitative research?
o A. It complicates data triangulation
o B. It limits the generalizability of findings
o C. It risks guiding the study toward expected findings
o D. It reduces the credibility of results
Correct Answer: C. It risks guiding the study toward expected findings
Rationale: A rigid conceptual framework can constrain the research process, leading to bias by steering the study toward preconceived outcomes rather than allowing findings to emerge naturally.
What does transferability in qualitative research depend on?
o A. Replicability of findings in other contexts
o B. Use of quantitative sampling techniques
o C. Rich, thick descriptions of research settings
o D. The neutrality of the researcher
Correct Answer: C. Rich, thick descriptions of research settings
Rationale: Transferability is facilitated by providing detailed descriptions of the research context, enabling others to judge whether the findings can be applied to similar contexts.
What role does triangulation play in qualitative research?
o A. Ensures replication of findings
o B. Enhances the credibility of results by using multiple perspectives
o C. Minimizes biases by excluding outliers
o D. Supports generalizability through statistical validation
Correct Answer: B. Enhances the credibility of results by using multiple perspectives
Rationale: Triangulation involves using multiple sources, methods, or perspectives to cross-check findings, enhancing the credibility and trustworthiness of the research.
A nurse researcher conducting qualitative research is concerned with ensuring trustworthiness. Which of the following best defines trustworthiness in qualitative research?
A. The degree to which results can be generalized to other settings
B. The ability to replicate the study under identical conditions
C. The credibility, transferability, and dependability of the study results
D. The use of structured, quantitative data collection methods
Answer: C
Rationale: Trustworthiness in qualitative research is evaluated through credibility, transferability, and dependability, rather than replication or generalizability
What is the primary goal of applying bracketing strategies in qualitative research?
A. To eliminate researcher bias entirely
B. To critically compare findings with previous literature
C. To set aside preconceptions and approach the data with fresh eyes
D. To ensure that coding decisions remain consistent
Answer: C
Rationale: Bracketing involves setting aside personal knowledge and assumptions to view the data objectively
Which of the following reflects an appropriate strategy to ensure rigor during the data collection phase of a qualitative study?
A. Rely solely on previously published frameworks for data analysis
B. Use a priori frameworks to guide the development of data categories
C. Develop and adapt data collection methods that fit the evolving research context
D. Avoid revisiting previously collected data to maintain a strict timeline
Answer: C
Rationale: Rigor is ensured by adapting data collection methods that align with the context while maintaining methodological cohesion
A nurse researcher wants to ensure that their qualitative study findings are credible. Which technique should they use?
A. Ensure statistical reliability by increasing the sample size
B. Conduct member checks to validate participants’ interpretations
C. Use random sampling to enhance generalizability
D. Focus on collecting data from a homogeneous population
Answer: B
Rationale: Member checks, where participants review and validate the findings, enhance the credibility of qualitative studies
What is an essential component of achieving data saturation in qualitative research?
A. Stopping data collection when no new information or themes emerge
B. Replicating data collection across different geographic areas
C. Conducting interviews with a minimum of 50 participants
D. Using only structured interview methods to gather uniform data
Answer: A
Rationale: Saturation is achieved when no new data, themes, or insights are being discovered, ensuring the completeness of data
To address a negative case during data analysis, what should the researcher do?
A. Exclude the case from the analysis to maintain thematic consistency
B. Include the case only if it supports existing themes
C. Disregard anomalies to focus on the dominant patterns in the data
D. Identify and analyze similar negative cases until they are saturated
Answer: D
Rationale: Analyzing and saturating negative cases ensures the robustness and credibility of qualitative findings
Why is purposive sampling preferred in qualitative research?
A. It ensures that findings are representative of the general population
B. It allows for the selection of participants with rich, lived experiences
C. It reduces the likelihood of researcher bias during data collection
D. It standardizes participant responses for statistical analysis
Answer: B
Rationale: Purposive sampling is used to select participants who can provide deep insights into the phenomenon being studied
What is a potential disadvantage of moving too quickly through the analytic tasks in a qualitative study?
A. Over-saturation of categories
B. Missed analytic opportunities and incomplete conclusions
C. Inability to test emerging theories with new data
D. Oversimplification of findings
Answer: B
Rationale: Pacing ensures that each analytic step is thorough, preventing missed opportunities and ensuring valid conclusions
What is a key characteristic of reliable coding in qualitative research?
A. Use of predefined codes without modification
B. Assigning codes based on the researcher’s intuition
C. Consistent tracking of coding decisions and iterative refinement
D. Ensuring consistency across coders by standardizing interpretations
Answer: C
Rationale: Tracking decisions and refining codes enhances reliability and ensures that the coding reflects the evolving understanding of the data
Which strategy enhances inter-rater reliability during the coding process?
A. Assigning different questions to different coders
B. Conducting independent coding followed by comparison
C. Limiting the number of coders to ensure consistency
D. Avoiding cross-validation of coding decisions
Answer: B
Rationale: Independent coding and subsequent comparison help achieve agreement among coders, ensuring reliability
What is the primary purpose of maintaining an audit trail in qualitative research?
A. To enhance the generalizability of the findings
B. To identify themes without additional participant data
C. To ensure coding schemes remain consistent across studies
D. To document research events and decisions for external verification
Answer: D
Rationale: An audit trail allows independent reviewers to verify the rigor and transparency of the research process
What should an audit trail include?
A. A detailed history of coding decisions, sampling, and data gathering
B. General summaries of themes from participant responses
C. Statistical calculations to confirm thematic findings
D. Predefined outcomes based on the researcher’s framework
Answer: A
Rationale: The audit trail should document all research decisions, coding histories, and sampling strategies to ensure transparency and validity
Why is comparing new findings with the literature an important step in qualitative research?
A. To ensure the findings conform to established theories
B. To eliminate discrepancies between data and the literature
C. To validate the researcher’s predetermined assumptions
D. To triangulate findings and identify new research opportunities
Answer: D
Rationale: Comparing findings with the literature helps to identify gaps, extend knowledge, and triangulate findings for validation
After completing a qualitative study, what is the best method to demonstrate rigor in the results?
A. Present the findings as purely descriptive accounts
B. Implement findings in practice and evaluate their effectiveness
C. Avoid comparing findings to other studies to preserve originality
D. Summarize findings without referencing participant quotes
Answer: B
Rationale: Implementing findings and demonstrating their applicability ensures rigor and affirms the study’s validity
What is a critical feature of demonstrating validity upon project completion?
A. Limiting findings to a specific research context
B. Publishing the findings in peer-reviewed journals
C. Triangulating results with subsequent research
D. Avoiding peer review to maintain independence
Answer: C
Rationale: Triangulating findings with subsequent research strengthens validity by confirming or extending the original results
Which term corresponds to “credibility” in qualitative research, as derived from quantitative criteria?
A. Reliability
B. Validity
C. Dependability
D. Generalizability
Answer: B
Rationale: Credibility in qualitative research is analogous to validity in quantitative research, focusing on the “truth value” of findings
A nurse researcher is conducting qualitative research and wants to ensure “transferability” of findings. Which action is most appropriate?
A. Conducting a statistical analysis of participant demographics
B. Comparing results directly with quantitative studies
C. Randomly sampling participants to ensure representativeness
D. Providing a thick description of the research context and participants
Answer: D
Rationale: Transferability is enhanced by providing rich, thick descriptions that allow readers to determine applicability to other contexts
What is a critical feature of “confirmability” in qualitative research?
A. Establishing cause-and-effect relationships
B. Using audit trails to link findings to their data sources
C. Conducting member checks to validate interpretations
D. Ensuring statistical significance of data
Answer: B
Rationale: Confirmability involves using an audit trail to ensure that findings are grounded in the data, free from researcher bias
A nurse researcher uses member checking to verify data interpretation. Which statement best explains the purpose of this strategy?
A. To allow participants to critique the researcher’s methodology
B. To enhance the external validity of findings
C. To compare findings with those of other studies
D. To confirm that participants’ realities are accurately represented
Answer: D
Rationale: Member checking ensures that participants agree with the researcher’s interpretation of their responses, confirming credibility
In qualitative research, what is the purpose of triangulation?
A. To increase the sample size for statistical generalization
B. To examine a phenomenon using multiple perspectives or methods
C. To ensure uniformity in data collection procedures
D. To validate findings through numerical data transformation
Answer: B
Rationale: Triangulation involves using multiple methods, data sources, or theoretical perspectives to enhance validity and depth
A researcher documents every decision made during their qualitative study to create an audit trail. What is the primary purpose of this strategy?
A. To maintain participant confidentiality
B. To allow replication of the study
C. To enhance the dependability of the research
D. To reduce bias in participant responses
Answer: C
Rationale: An audit trail demonstrates the transparency and dependability of the research process by detailing how conclusions were reached
How does reflexivity contribute to the trustworthiness of qualitative research?
A. By allowing participants to influence data analysis
B. By enabling researchers to critically evaluate their own biases
C. By validating findings through statistical analysis
D. By ensuring that results are generalizable to larger populations
Answer: B
Rationale: Reflexivity involves researchers reflecting on their biases and the influence of their perspectives on the study
What does “dependability” in qualitative research signify?
A. Replicability of the study under identical conditions
B. Statistical reliability of participant responses
C. Consistency and transparency of the research process
D. The researcher’s ability to generalize findings
Answer: C
Rationale: Dependability refers to the consistency of research findings, which is demonstrated through detailed documentation and transparent methods
Which of the following demonstrates “authenticity” in qualitative research?
A. Providing thick descriptions of the research context
B. Empowering participants to make informed decisions
C. Confirming findings through peer debriefing
D. Comparing results with quantitative data
Answer: B
Rationale: Authenticity includes ensuring that participants are empowered and their perspectives are accurately represented
What is a key characteristic of “thick description” in qualitative research?
A. Including detailed statistical analyses
B. Ensuring that the findings align with pre-existing theories
C. Conducting multiple interviews with each participant
D. Providing rich, contextualized narratives of participants’ experiences
Answer: D
Rationale: Thick description provides detailed, contextual accounts that allow readers to understand the setting and participants’ perspectives fully
Why is prolonged engagement important in qualitative research?
A. To collect a large volume of data for statistical analysis
B. To eliminate researcher bias from the study
C. To build trust with participants and gain deeper insights
D. To ensure uniformity in data collection
Answer: C
Rationale: Prolonged engagement helps build trust with participants, enabling richer and more accurate data collection
How does analyzing negative cases enhance the validity of qualitative research?
A. By excluding anomalous data from the final report
B. By ensuring that findings align with participants’ perspectives
C. By revising interpretations to account for conflicting data
D. By confirming pre-existing patterns in the data
Answer: C
Rationale: Negative case analysis involves revising interpretations to include contradictory data, enhancing the robustness of findings
A peer review is conducted during qualitative research. What is the primary goal of this strategy?
A. To validate findings through external statistical analysis
B. To identify and address researcher bias
C. To enhance participant recruitment
D. To align findings with quantitative studies
Answer: B
Rationale: Peer reviews help identify potential biases and ensure that findings are coherent and plausible
In qualitative research, how is the concept of generalizability (external validity) viewed?
A. It is not relevant for single-case studies or unique phenomena
B. It is achieved through statistical sampling and replication
C. It is prioritized over other criteria such as transferability
D. It ensures that findings are representative of larger populations
Answer: A
Rationale: Generalizability is not typically a goal in qualitative research, especially for unique or single-case studies
Which strategy is most effective for enhancing the credibility of findings in a phenomenological study?
A. Triangulation with quantitative data
B. Member checks to validate participants’ perspectives
C. Creating detailed audit trails for replication
D. Using random sampling techniques
Answer: B
Rationale: Member checks ensure that the interpretations accurately represent participants’ experiences and enhance credibility
In qualitative research, how is “confirmability” established?
A. By ensuring the findings are free from the researcher’s personal bias.
B. Through the researcher’s ability to replicate the study across different settings.
C. By using standardized measurement tools for data collection.
D. By ensuring the sample size is large and diverse.
Answer: A
Rationale: Confirmability ensures that the findings are shaped by the data and not by the researcher’s biases, making the results more objective
Which concept emphasizes the researcher’s awareness of their biases and how they influence the study?
A. Confirmability
B. Reflexivity
C. Validity
D. Reliability
Answer: B
Rationale: Reflexivity involves the researcher critically reflecting on their own biases, assumptions, and influence on the research process, improving the study’s credibility
Which of the following is an example of “thick description” in qualitative research?
A. Summarizing the findings in a concise report for quick dissemination.
B. Presenting a statistical breakdown of participant demographics.
C. Using abstract terms and concepts to explain the research findings.
D. Providing a detailed account of the context, participants, and the meanings behind their experiences
Answer: D
Rationale: Thick description involves providing a detailed, rich account of the context, people, and their experiences, which enhances the understanding and transferability of the findings
What is the purpose of an audit trail in qualitative research?
A. To provide a detailed record of the researcher’s decision-making process and data analysis.
B. To offer a chronological account of the research timeline.
C. To demonstrate the applicability of findings to larger populations.
D. To verify that all participants’ identities are protected.
Answer: A
Rationale: An audit trail is a documented record of the decisions and processes involved in data collection and analysis, allowing for transparency and dependability
How does the concept of transferability differ from generalisability in qualitative research?
A. Transferability focuses on how findings can be applied to different populations, while generalisability is concerned with the accuracy of measurements.
B. Transferability refers to applying findings to different contexts, whereas generalisability focuses on applying results across large, random samples.
C. Transferability involves using statistical tests, while generalisability deals with the depth of data analysis.
D. Transferability applies to qualitative data only, whereas generalisability is used for both qualitative and quantitative research.
Answer: B
Rationale: Transferability in qualitative research refers to applying findings to different contexts, while generalisability refers to the application of results across broad, random populations
Which strategy involves using multiple data sources or methods to enhance the validity of qualitative research?
A. Member checking
B. Triangulation
C. Thick description
D. Reflexivity
Answer: B
Rationale: Triangulation refers to using multiple sources, methods, or researchers to verify findings, thereby enhancing the validity and depth of the research
What strategy enhances the credibility of a qualitative study by including alternative explanations for the findings?
A. Peer review
B. Triangulation
C. Negative case analysis
D. Audit trail
Answer: C
Rationale: Negative case analysis involves seeking out and considering data that contradict or do not fit with emerging patterns, enhancing the credibility of the research by addressing alternative explanations
What is the purpose of member checking in qualitative research?
A. To ensure the research findings are generalized across different populations.
B. To confirm that the researcher’s interpretation of data aligns with participants’ views.
C. To ensure the researcher’s personal biases are excluded from the analysis.
D. To triangulate findings from multiple data sources for validation.
Answer: B
Rationale: Member checking involves asking participants to review and confirm the accuracy of the researcher’s interpretation of their perspectives, thus enhancing credibility
According to Lincoln and Guba, which term is used to replace reliability in qualitative research?
A. Credibility
B. Confirmability
C. Dependability
D. Authenticity
Answer: C
Rationale: Lincoln and Guba use “dependability” to replace “reliability” in qualitative research, emphasizing the consistency and accuracy of findings rather than replicability
What is the primary distinction between validity in qualitative and quantitative research?
A. Validity in qualitative research focuses on measurement accuracy, while in quantitative research it focuses on contextual understanding.
B. Qualitative research uses validity to ensure that results are statistically significant, whereas quantitative research focuses on participant perspectives.
C. Validity in qualitative research is concerned with the truthfulness of the participants’ stories, while in quantitative research it focuses on instrument reliability.
D. Validity in qualitative research focuses on replicating results in other settings, while in quantitative research it addresses the relevance of theoretical constructs.
Answer: C
Rationale: In qualitative research, validity is about the truthfulness and authenticity of the participants’ perspectives, while in quantitative research, it concerns the measurement accuracy of instruments
