Triangulation can be enhanced by contrasting outcomes with findings from other types of research or previous research outcomes (see Onwuegbuzie & Leech, 2007). present a case of authors who report an investigation of the process of recovering from childhood sexual abuse, but give no indication of who they are and what they brought to the research. Finally, apart from the methodological and practical considerations, it would be fruitful to take a step back and study the social, cultural, and institutional aspects of some of these issues (see also Strassheim & Kettunen, 2014). Under such an approach, validity determines whether the research truly measures what it was intended to measure. All the more reason not to assess the truth value of such investigations on one particular monolithic world view, but instead to let qualitative evaluation criteria correspond with the paradigms and lenses through which it can be assessed and the different functions that qualitative information can have (instrumental, meaning, and empowerment). Focusing on the natural behavior of people and their perceptions of the social world (Denzin and Lincoln 2005; Yin, 1994), one relatively recent development is the increasing use of qualitative methods and information for evaluation purposes in social policy and health care. Within the naturalistic paradigm, one is better to speak of criteria such as “credibility,” “fittingness,” and “confirmability.” Later Lincoln and Guba (1985) redefined these concepts to credibility, “transferability,” and “dependability.” Guba and Lincoln subsequently formulated several procedures aimed to increase the credibility of qualitative research. Therefore, the measurement is not valid. All research is conducted via the use of scientific tests and measures, which yield certain observations and data. Based on the three paradigm assumptions, Creswell and Miller identify nine different types of validity procedures (see Table 1). Like Rolfe and Sandelowski, Hammersley ultimately rejects the idea that a final set of universal criteria can be formulated. It argues that different purposes of qualitative evaluations can be linked with different scientific paradigms and perspectives, thus transcending unproductive paradigmatic divisions as well as providing a flexible yet rigorous validity framework for researchers and … ... VALIDITY IN QUALITATIVE RESEARCH. 125–126). Sandelowski and Barroso (2002), for example, distance themselves from the search for general criteria for qualitative research because in their view the epistemological range of qualitative methods is too broad to be represented by a uniform set of criteria. One also has to share the assumption that certain disparities in the classroom affect educational performance, defined in terms of exam success. They suggest that this choice is essentially governed by two perspectives: the researchers’ paradigm assumptions and the lens researchers use to validate their studies. However, another reply, that … Historically, highly influenced by postmodern and constructivist schools of thought, programs in community and social work are now increasingly fitted into experimental or “quantized” research models reminiscent of the old modus operandi in the health sector. Discussion Please talk about the level of reliability and validity of your results and their influence on values. Author’s NoteThe author thanks Movisie, Netherlands Institute for Social Development; RIVM National Institute for Public Health and the Environment; Netherlands Institute for Sport & Physical Activity. As persons increase in age, mental capacity increases until maximum development is reached. Back in 1944, Edwards Deming developed a classification of potential error in survey research, identifying 13 “factors affecting the ultimate usefulness of a survey.” These factors include “variability in response,” “bias and variation arising from the interviewer,” “imperfections in the design of the questionnaire,” among others. Can, for example, intended effects of a support program for pregnant teenagers—such as encouraging them to remain in school—indeed be observed in the field? View or download all the content the society has access to. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Validity and qualitative research: An oxymoron? In member checking, the participants are given the opportunity to assess the credibility of the authors’ account (Stake, 1995). Since roughly the 1970s increasing criticism of the reliability and objectivity of qualitative research has resulted in a growing interest in establishing more rigorous criteria and methodological standards. What are additional effects? Instead, they argue for a more rhetorical approach in which the quality of each project must be determined separately for every study. Configurations, contexts and mechanisms, Qualitative evaluation of a problem-solving intervention for informal hospice caregivers, SAGE Publications Inc unless otherwise noted. The constructivist researcher assumes more pluralistic, interpretive, and contextualized perspectives of reality (i.e., sensitive to time, place, and situation). (, Elliott, R., Fischer, C. T., Rennie, D. L. (, Fetterman, D. M., Kaftarian, S. J., Wandersman, A. View or download all content the institution has subscribed to. Within this paradigm, one in fact is looking for the qualitative equivalent of the rigid methodological protocols in the quantitative research community (see e.g., Maxwell, 1996). The framework of Creswell and Miller provides a basis for a new model for validity in qualitative evaluation. These participant changes can create error that reduces the reliability (i.e., consistency or stability) of measurements. Learn how your comment data is processed. Validity in qualitative research can also be checked by a technique known as respondent validation. That is to say, a period long enough to adequately represent the subject under investigation (see also Glesne & Peshkin, 1992). The email address and/or password entered does not match our records, please check and try again. What Hammersley shows with this example is that research in the social domain is framed by a series of value assumptions which can produce serious differences. To illustrate a good practice, Elliott et al. Interpretivists prefer qualitative research methods and are prepared to sacrifice reliability and representativeness to gain deeper insight which should provide higher validity. For more information view the SAGE Journals Sharing page. Understanding Reliability & Validity in Qualitative Research. One’s stance on the question of validity in qualitative research, then, primarily depends on which scientific paradigm is supported, leading some authors to reject the desirability of predetermined criteria for qualitative research altogether. A PhD student working with a time frame of several years will generally have the patience and opportunity to apply validity procedures adequately. You can be signed in via any or all of the methods shown below at the same time. For instance via so-called multisite studies whereby observations from different evaluative situations in different research locations are compared, or through the systematic comparison of results of qualitative research with insights from the (scientific) literature. It depends on the nature of the measurement (e.g., focus/attention affects reaction times, hunger/tiredness leads to reduced physical/mental performance, etc.). To this end, quantitative researchers often talk about “total survey error” and “fitness for use” referring to the variety of potential errors and “dimensions” that impact the survey quality framework. Although validity in qualitative inquiry has been widely reflected upon in the methodological literature (and is still often subject of debate), the link with evaluation research is underexplored. Login failed. I continue to work on creating a quality framework for qualitative, and have already been working on the recruiting aspect. Table 1. Theoretical factors: Positivists prefer quantitative research methods and are generally more concerned with reliability and representativeness. Sandelowski and Barroso (2002) write: “The only site for evaluating research studies—whether they are qualitative or quantitative—is the report itself” (p. 8). Rooted in the positivist approach of philosophy, quantitative research deals primarily with the culmination of empirical conceptions (Winter 2000). Depending on their philosophical perspectives, some qualitative researchers reject the framework of validity that is commonly accepted in more quantitative research in the social sciences. Thick description involves the detailed description of the setting, the participants, and the themes of the study. Its aim is to minimize the risk of misinterpretations by the researchers. By continuing to browse After all, in such an evaluation one does not investigate “pregnant teenagers” but the program designed for their education and support and to assess it adequately, therefore, several perspectives are needed. FundingThe author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Financial support for the study underlying this article was received from Movisie, Netherlands Institute for Social Development; RIVM National Institute for Public Health and the Environment; Netherlands Institute for Sport and Physical Activity. Evaluating a program or policy requires a critical stance and it goes without saying that some research results might affect respondents negatively. The same steps can be followed with the other evaluation purposes (meaning and empowerment) “checking” procedures from the columns down and linking them with the perspectives from the rows. Can methodological choices be justified? Potential variability associated with the: IMHO you forgot the main aspect: the recruitment quality. In the case study, interviews, observations, and documentation analysis are conducted. Interrater reliability (also called interobserver reliability) measures the degree of … and that from the participant perspective there is member checking (do participant teenagers endorse certain conclusions/interpretations made by the evaluators? In the wake of Guba and Lincoln, many authors supplemented or perfected their criteria, or suggested alternative terminology for similar procedures. Error is inherent in all investigations and is inversely related to validity and reliability. Find out about Lean Library here, If you have access to journal via a society or associations, read the instructions below. what are its working components? However, the thermometer has not been calibrated properly, so the result is 2 degrees lower than the true value. The more the categories and conclusions are confirmed by different data sources, the more valid the results. How do practitioners shape it? The answer is that they conduct research using the measure to confirm that the scores make sense based on their understanding of th… It further explicates the criteria that are essential for each respective paradigm and/or perspective. Reflexivity of the researcher refers to the extent to which researchers make their personal values and beliefs explicit in the research report, in such a way that is clear to what extent they might have influenced the results. One of the key factors affecting validity and reliability is error. This article provides a discussion on the question of validity in qualitative evaluation. Not because ethical considerations are not important, but because the objective of upholding certain ethical standards in evaluation research is to some extent naïve. Potential variability associated with the: Particular venue/setting (incl., face-to-face and online) Presence of observers/interviewers as well as other participants (e.g., groups … Issues of research reliability and validity need to be addressed in methodology chapter in a concise manner.. Members of _ can log in with their society credentials below, International Journal of Qualitative Methods, This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 License (. It is therefore important that funders of qualitative evaluations create the time and space for evaluators to implement validity criteria in earnest. How did it empower them and generate solutions to practical problems (Meyer, 2006)? Prolonged engagement implies that the investigator performs the study for a considerable period. Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), “Why We Need to Reassess Focus Group Research”, 13 “factors affecting the ultimate usefulness of a survey.”, The Key to Successful Executive Interviewing: Up Close & Personal, Five Factors in the Recruiting Process Adds to the Quality Scheme for Qualitative Research « Research Design Review, Accounting for Social Desirability Bias in Online Research « Research Design Review, In-depth Interview Data: Achieving Quality From Cooperation, Limitations of the Focus Group Method: An Overview, Strengths of the Focus Group Method: An Overview, Qualitative Analysis: ‘Thick Meaning’ by Preserving Each Lived Experience, Gathering Quality Ethnographic Data: 3 Key Considerations, Qualitative Research: A Call for Collective Action, Particular venue/setting (incl., face-to-face and online), Presence of observers/interviewers as well as other participants (e.g., groups vs. IDIs), Participants’ cultural/social/economic/gender/age diversity, Personal/personality aspects of the interviewer/moderator, “Best” techniques utilized for specific topics, type of participants, venue, Use of projective techniques (e.g., what to use when, impact on the discussion overall, analytical schemes). 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