Credibility of Research Results
Friday 2 December 2011
Factors Impacting Credibility
Thursday 1 December 2011
Improving Credibility through Triangulation
In qualitative research it is common to see researchers employ a triangulation strategy to improve the credibility of their inquiry. Denzin (1988) outlined four distinct types of triangulation:
- Data
- Observer
- Methodological
- Theory
In some cases, ‘multiple triangulation’ is used; this uses a combination of two or more techniques.
Data:
This technique can be broken down into three different types; these are: time, space and person. Time triangulation requires the researcher to alternate the times at which data is collected. Space triangulation requires the researcher to alternate where the data is collected. Person triangulation requires the researcher to collect data from a wide variety of individuals/groups.
Observer:
This procedure requires multiple researchers with divergent backgrounds to work together in prominent roles within the same study. Each researcher collects their own data; they are not given the data. Once each observer has collected their data, they meet and reach a conclusion.
Methodological:
This strategy involves multiple methods for collecting the data. The aim of this technique is to achieve a more holistic and greater understanding of the phenomenon under investigation. This is an excellent method of evaluating the authenticity of the data collected, thus increasing the collected data’s credibility. This is the most time consuming and costly triangulation technique.
Theory:
This technique requires that multiple theories are explored during the analysis of the findings. As there is no perspective that fits any situation, it is ideal to explorer multiple theories to gain a better understanding on the data collected. It is thought that ‘the best perspective is one which contains many perspectives’
References:
The Credibility of the Researcher
- What experience, training, and perspective does the researcher bring to the field?
- What personal connections does the researcher have to the people, program, or topic studied?
- Who funded the study and under what arrangements with the researcher?
- How did the researcher gain access to the study site?
- What prior knowledge did the researcher bring to the research topic and the study site?
references:
Bias in research results
Wednesday 30 November 2011
Ensuring Credibility of Qualitative Research
It is hard to ensure that qualitative research is accurate or correct; therefore the following 4 aspects need to be taken into consideration when conducting qualitative research:
- Credibility/trustworthiness
- Transferability
- Dependability
- Confirmability
These terms are used by Lincoln and Guba, to replace ‘reliability’ and ‘validity’, which are usually linked to quantitative research.
Credibility/trustworthiness:
The credibility is involved in establishing that the results of the research are believable. This is a classic example of ‘quality not quantity’. It depends more on the richness of the information gathered, rather than the amount of data gathered. There are many techniques to gauge the accuracy of the findings, such as data triangulation, triangulation through multiple analysts and ‘member checks’. In reality the participants/readers are the only ones who can reasonably judge the credibility of the results.
Transferability:
Transferability refers to the degree in which the research can be transferred to other contexts; this section is defined by readers of the research. The reader notes the specific details of the research situation and methods, and compares them to a similar situation that they are more familiar with. If the specifics are comparable, the original research would be deemed more credible. It is essential that the original researcher supplies a highly detailed description of their situation and methods.
Dependability:
Dependability ensures that the research findings are consistent and could be repeated. This is measured by the standard of which the research is conducted, analysed and presented. Each process in the study should be reported in detail to enable an external researcher to repeat the inquiry and achieve similar results. This also enables researchers to understand the methods and their effectiveness.
Confirmability
Confirmability questions how the research findings are supported by the data collected. This is a process to establish whether the researcher has been bias during the study; this is due to the assumption that qualitative research allows the research to bring a unique perspective to the study. An external researcher can judge whether this is the case by studying the data collected during the original inquiry. To enhance the confirmability of the initial conclusion, and audit trail can be completed throughout the study to demonstrate how each decision was made.
References
http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/qualval.php
http://www.qualres.org/HomeLinc-3684.html
http://www.angelfire.com/theforce/shu_cohort_viii/images/Trustworthypaper.pdf
Reliability and Validity!
Credibility can be strengthened
- Providing an accurate and complete description of the results.
- Modifying your explanation of the results depending on your involvement in the research.
- Member Checking.
- Peer debriefing and support.
- Accessing data which does which does not fit with your explanation.
- Using reflexivity to identify possible bias.
Friday 25 November 2011
Credibility Issues in Qualitative Research
While researching are chosen topic area (credibility of research) I stumbled across this video on youtube about the credibility issues in qualitative research. It gives explanations of many credibility issues such as who carried out the research, and are the findings believable.
I think watching this short video is a good starting point on are subject.
What do you think about it?
Any other ideas?
are there any different credibility issues in quantative research compared to qualitative?