This method is a kind of diary in which both qualitative and quantitative researchers can use on a daily basis or as needed for records of a variety of information. This is particularly important if the researcher decides to analyze the latent content (noticing silence, sighs, laughter, posture etc.) Quality and Trustworthiness in Qualitative Research in Counseling Psychology. There is an ongoing demand for effective and straightforward strategies for evaluating content analysis studies. Criteria for determining the trustworthiness of qualitative research were introduced by Guba and Lincoln in the 1980s when they replaced terminology for achieving rigor, reliability, validity, and generalizability with dependability, credibility, and transferability. In the reporting phase, results are described by the content of the categories describing the phenomenon using a selected approach (either deductive or inductive). However, in previous scientific articles, the unit of analysis has often been inadequately described, making it difficult to evaluate how successful was the meaning unit used (Kyngäs et al., 2011). However, it has been recommended that this be undertaken with caution (Ryan-Nicholls & Will, 2009). Her research interests concern the methodological issues in nursing science, and the well-being of children and their families focusing on the aspects of pain assessment and non-pharmacological interventions, and promoting of child- and family-centeredness in nursing. Rigor is simply defined as the quality or state of being very exact, careful, or with … View or download all the content the society has access to. Conformability refers to objectivity and implies that the data accurately represent the information that the participants provided and interpretations of those data are not invented by the inquirer. Usually, some aspects of the process can be readily described, but it also partially depends on the researcher’s insight or intuitive action, which may be very difficult to describe to others (Elo & Kyngäs, 2008; Graneheim & Lundman, 2004). For example, in one of our studies, two research team members checked the adequacy of the analysis and asked for possible complements (Kyngäs et al., 2011). Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Consequently, this makes it easier for readers to evaluate the trustworthiness of studies. Rigour and trustworthiness are to qualitative research what reliability and validity are to quantitative research (Creswell, 2009; Lincoln and Guba, 1985; Shenton, 2004). Whittemore et al. The most common questions I receive have to do with trustworthiness in qualitative research, which refers to the accuracy of a research study, data, and findings. Every finding should be as trustworthy as possible, and the study must be evaluated in relation to the procedures used to generate the findings (Graneheim & Lundman, 2004). Seale20 (1999) asserted that trustworthiness of a research study is based on the concepts of reliability and validity. PERSPECTIVE ISSN: 2477-4073 ENSURING TRUSTWORTHINESS IN QUALITATIVE It has confirmability, which is largely an issue of contributed to the criticisms of bias from presentation.1 the eyes of the number of believers. These criteria represent parallels to the positivists’ criteria of internal validity, reliability, objectivity, and … A more focused discussion about the quality of qualitative content analysis findings is also needed, particularly as several articles have been published on the validity and reliability of quantitative content analysis (Neuendorf, 2011; Potter & Levine-Donnerstein, 1999; Rourke & Anderson, 2004) than qualitative content analysis. Kati Utriainen, PhD, is a Coordinator in University of Oulu, Institute of Health Sciences, Finland. Together, these phases should give a reader a clear indication of the overall trustworthiness of the study. The strategy to ensure trustworthiness of content analysis starts by choosing the best data collection method to answer the research questions of interest. It is easier to recognize when saturation is achieved if data are at least preliminarily collected and analyzed at the same time (Guthrie et al., 2004; Sandelowski, 1995a, 2001). There has been much debate about the most appropriate terms (rigor, validity, reliability, trustworthiness) for assessing qualitative research validity (Koch & Harrington, 1998). This video describes Lincoln and Guba's trustworthiness framework related to qualitative research. Satu Elo, PhD, is a Senior university lecturer in University of Oulu, Institute of Health Sciences. Outi Kanste (PhD) is a senior researcher at the National Institute for Health and Welfare in Finland. Conformability of findings means that the data accurately represent the information that the participants provided and the interpretations of those data are not invented by the inquirer (Polit & Beck, 2012). Competing Paradigms in Qualitative Research EGaN G. GUBA YVONN AS. Content analysis is a methodology that requires researchers who use it to make a strong case for the trustworthiness of their data (Potter & Levine-Donnerstein, 1999; Sandelowski, 1995a). Qualitative content analysis is commonly used for analyzing qualitative data. The reference list of selected papers was also checked, and qualitative research methodology textbooks were used when writing the synthesis of the review. Readers should be able to clearly follow the analysis and resulting conclusions (Schreier, 2012). Qualitative researchers are advised to be systematic and well organized to enhance the trustworthiness of their study (Saldaña, 2011). From the viewpoint of sampling strategy, it is essential to ask questions such as the following: What is the best sampling method for my study? (2018). You might not require more become old to spend to go to the books establishment as skillfully as search for them. Princeton, NJ 08543, Citation: Cohen D, Crabtree B. From the perspective of trustworthiness, a key question is, “What is the relationship between prefiguration and the data collection method, that is, should the researcher use descriptive or semi-structured questions?” Nowadays, qualitative content analysis is most often applied to verbal data such as interview transcripts (Schreier, 2012). Simply select your manager software from the list below and click on download. Naturalistic research is concerned with phenomena as they exist in their natural settings, and qualitative research methods are perfectly suited for … Holloway and Wheeler (2010) have stated that researchers often have difficulty in agreeing on how to judge the trustworthiness of their qualitative study. Lincoln and Guba (1985) created standards for the trustworthiness of qualitative research that parallel the standards of reliability and validity in quantitative research. Is my sample appropriate? Qualitative research is important because it measures things that numbers might not be able to define, qualitative methods sometimes identify trends before they show up in the quantitative data. This can affect the authenticity (Lincoln & Guba, 1985; Whittemore et al., 2001) of the study, which refers to the extent to which researchers fairly and faithfully show a range of realities. Qualitative analysis: What it is and how to begin? Therefore, it is important to state the principles and criteria used to select participants and detail the participants’ main characteristics so that the transferability of the results to other contexts can be assessed (e.g., see Moretti et al., 2011). This may help to develop a more complete description of trustworthiness in qualitative content analysis. It should be based on a defined set of criteria that are followed logically for each qualitative content analysis phase. In qualitative content analysis, the homogeneity of the study participants or differences expected between groups are evaluated (Burmeister, 2012; Sandelowski, 1995a). Trustworthiness in Qualitative Research Criteria for trustworthiness in qualitative research are closely tied to the paradigmatic underpinnings of the particular discipline in which a particular investigation is conducted. Researchers often struggle with problems that compromise the trustworthiness of qualitative research findings (de Casterlé, Gastmans, Bryon, & Denier, 2012). Whittemore et al. This is likewise one of the factors by obtaining the soft documents of this competing paradigms in qualitative research by online. If the saturation of data is incomplete, it may cause problems in data analysis and prevent items being linked together (Cavanagh, 1997). (2011), the advantage of qualitative research is the richness of the collected data and such data need to be interpreted and coded in a valid and reliable way. Denzin and Lincoln, in qualitative research there is the aim to “transform the world.” This in itself has many nuances and varies among the different qualitative research strategies. Conformability refers to the objectivity, that is, the potential for congruence between two or more independent people about the data’s accuracy, relevance, or meaning. Since then, scholars have elaborated ways of establishing these four tenets of trustworthiness. There are four criteria in qualitative research that show a trustworthy study. From the perspective of establishing credibility, researchers must ensure that those participating in research are identified and described accurately. In some cases, you likewise do not discover the broadcast competing paradigms in qualitative research that you are looking for. This may have led to improvements in the quality of reports on the process of content analysis. We agree with Creswell’s (2013) comment that validation in a qualitative study is an attempt to assess the accuracy of the findings, as best described by the researcher and the participants. (, Morse, J. M., Barrett, M., Mayan, M., Olson, K., Spiers, J. The fact that pictures may convey results more clearly than words should be borne in mind when reporting content analysis findings. Data trustworthiness has four key components: credibility, transferability, dependability, and … Furthermore, the reporting of the content analysis process should be based on self-critical thinking at each phase of the analysis. As a research method, it represents a systematic and objective means of describing and quantifying phenomena (Downe-Wamboldt, 1992; Schreier, 2012). Based on their discussion, the categorization matrix is modified, if needed. Lincoln and Guba's Evaluative Criteria. For example, in qualitative interviews, it is common to test preliminary hypothesis and analysis with the informants. Although many criteria have been proposed to evaluate the trustworthiness of qualitative studies, they have rarely been followed. She is also head on Nursing Science studies and head of PhD studies in Health Sciences. Lincoln and Guba (1985) suggest qualitative research produces 'thick description' which provides a strong foundation to make a judgement about transferability of the findings. Based on the findings, we have compiled a checklist for researchers attempting to improve the trustworthiness of a content analysis study in each phase (Table 1). It is common that all data are first collected and then analyzed later. & Guba, EG. For more information view the SAGE Journals Sharing page. Although many critics are reluctant to accept the trustworthiness of qualitative research, frameworks for ensuring rigour in this form of work have been in existence for many years. The categorization matrix can be regarded as valid if the categories adequately represent the concepts, and from the viewpoint of validity, the categorization matrix accurately captures what was intended (Schreier, 2012). Quality and Trustworthiness in Qualitative Research in Counseling Psychology Susan L. Morrow University of Utah This article examines concepts of the trustworthiness, or credibility, of qualitative research. Researchers have mainly used qualitative criteria when evaluating aspects of validity in content analysis (Kyngäs et al., 2011). One criterion offered by Lincoln and Guba (1985) is triangulation to enhance the credibility of the data. Discussion of the trustworthiness of a study should be based on a defined set of criteria that are followed logically. However, there is a risk that quotations may be overused, thus weakening the analysis (Downe-Wamboldt, 1992; Graneheim & Lundman, 2004, Kyngäs et. Very often, these aspects can be shown in the same figure, for example, a diagram that illustrates the hierarchy of concepts or categories may also give an insight into the analysis process (see, for example, Timlin, Riala, & Kyngäs, 2013). Qualitative content analysis is one of the several qualitative methods currently available for analyzing data and interpreting its meaning (Schreier, 2012). Nurses in an Ebola Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Outbreak: Facing and Prepar... Bariatric Biosociality: Pushed Together, Pulled Apart, Burla, L., Knierim, B., Barth, K. L., Duetz, M., Abel, T. (, de Casterlé, B. D., Gastmans, C., Bryon, E., Denier, Y. It relies on the reasoning that findings can be generalized or transferred to other settings or groups. Please read and accept the terms and conditions and check the box to generate a sharing link. According to Hsieh and Shannon (2005), an important problem is failure to develop a complete understanding of the context, resulting in failure to identify the key categories. According to Schreier (2012), there is no clear dividing line between qualitative and quantitative content analysis, and similar terms and criteria for reliability and validity are often used. How rigour is achieved, however, remains an elusive concept for many qualitative researchers. Trustworthiness Valid inquiry in any sphere must Demonstrate its truth value Provide the basis for applying it Allow for external judgments to be made about the consistence of its procedures and the neutrality of its findings or decisions. that Lincoln and Guba (1985) had to spend quite a bit of space in their influential Naturalistic Inquiry addressing the issue. Naturalistic Inquiry. Here researchers seek to satisfy four criteria. The discussion in this article helps to clarify how content analysis should be reported in a valid and understandable manner, which, we expect, will be of particular benefit to reviewers of scientific articles. This product could help you, Accessing resources off campus can be a challenge. Field notes from the In addition, failure to complete the analysis abstraction process may mean that concepts are presented as results that are not mutually exclusive, leading to oversimplistic conclusions (Harwood & Garry, 2003; Weber, 1990). Lean Library can solve it. Competing paradigms in qualitative research. internal and external validity, reliability, and objectivity. Prior to using the method, the researcher should ask the question, “Is this method the best available to answer the target research question?” No analysis method is without drawbacks, but each may be good for a certain purpose. Critical reference groups are used in participatory action research and is a generic term for those the research and evaluation is intended primarily to benefit (Wadsworth, 1998). Dependability … Click here to return to Evaluative Criteria, © RWJF 2008 For example, postmodern strategies see the world in the text, and the outcome of the research directly reshapes the textual reality through language. Trustworthiness involves establishing: Credibility - confidence in the 'truth' of the findings. In N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln (Eds. (Lincoln’s name may be familiar to you from the Sage Handbook of Qualitative Research which she co-edited with Norman Denzin.) Improving the trustworthiness of content analysis begins with thorough preparation prior to the study and requires advanced skills in data gathering, content analysis, trustworthiness discussion, and result reporting. We recommend that preliminary analysis should start, for example, after a few interviews. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. For example, each main concept should be linked to the data by a quotation. From the perspective of validity, it is important to report how the results were created. Pre-interviews may help to determine whether the interview questions are suitable for obtaining rich data that answer the proposed research questions. Trustworthiness is all about establishing these four things, which are described in more detail below. The extent to which researchers fairly + faithfully show a range of diff Although qualitative content analysis is commonly used in nursing science research, the trustworthiness of its use has not yet been systematically evaluated. Dependability refers to the stability of data over time and under different conditions. The research question specifies what to analyze and what to create (Elo & Kyngäs, 2008; Schreier, 2012). All too often, the use of qualitative content analysis is only briefly mentioned in the methodology section, making it hard for readers to evaluate the process. It is critical to understand rigor in research. Several other trustworthiness evaluation criteria have been proposed for qualitative studies (Emden, Hancock, Schubert, & Darbyshire, 2001; Lincoln & Guba, 1985; Neuendorf, 2002; Polit & Beck, 2012; Schreier, 2012). FundingThe author(s) received no financial support for the research and/or authorship of this article. Her research work has focused on two fields: 1) Health promotive counselling of chronically ill patients, and people with overweight, and 2) Effectiveness of education on the competence of nursing staff, students and teachers. Lincoln and Guba (1985) founded the trustworthiness criteria as a means to evaluate qualitative research. What I did in ensuring Techniques for establishing transferability, Techniques for establishing dependability, Techniques for establishing confirmability. Selection of the most appropriate method of data collection is essential for ensuring the credibility of content analysis (Graneheim & Lundman, 2004). In 1994, the authors added a fifth criterion referred to as authenticity. In order to provide a different set for criteria that can be used for ascertaining the quality, Lincoln & Guba (1985) created a corresponding set of criteria for trustworthiness of qualitative research: (a) credibility (vs. internal validity), The literature review used here was not a systematic review, so there are some limitations. 120-124. Naturalistic research is concerned with phenomena as they exist in their natural settings, and qualitative research methods are perfectly suited for exploring such phenomena. An accurate description of the analysis and the relationship between the results and original data allow readers to draw their own conclusions regarding the trustworthiness of the results. "Showing how science is limited by its dominant mode of investigation, Lincoln and Guba propose an alternative paradigm--a "naturalistic" rather than "rationalistic" method of inquiry--in which the investigator avoids manipulating research outcomes. This site uses cookies. Interview tapes, videos, and transcribed text should be examined carefully to critically assess the researcher’s own actions For instance, questions should be asked such as “Did I manipulate or lead the participant?” and “Did I ask too broad or structured questions?” Such evaluation should not only begin at the start of the study but also be supported by continuous reflection to ensure the trustworthiness of content analysis. In order to provide a different set for criteria that can be used for ascertaining the quality, Lincoln & Guba (1985) created a corresponding set of criteria for trustworthiness of qualitative research: (a) credibility (vs. internal validity), (b) transferability (vs. external validity), (c) dependability (vs. reliability) and (d) confirmability (vs. objectivity). Both inductive and deductive content analysis processes involve three main phases: preparation, organization, and reporting of results. All the researchers should subsequently get together and discuss any divergent opinions concerning the categorization, like in the pilot phase mentioned earlier. July 2006. For example, if quotations are overused in the Results section, the results of the analysis may be unclear. Nearly 32 hours of interview data. Trustworthiness. Her research interests are nursing leadership and management as well as service system and integration particularly in services for children, youth and families. Transferability - showing that the findings have applicablity in other contexts. We concluded that it is important to scrutinize the trustworthiness of every phase of the analysis process, including the preparation, organization, and reporting of results. 23 Despite this fact and the argument that member checking can be a key process in establishing the credibility of the collected data, there are some disputes about its use. Fletcher, I. Furthermore, we discuss that it is often difficult to evaluate the trustworthiness of qualitative content analysis studies because of defective data collection method description and/or analysis description. In the inductive approach, the organization phase includes open coding, creating categories, and abstraction (Elo & Kyngäs, 2008). According to Pyett (2003), a good qualitative researcher cannot avoid the time-consuming work of returning again and again to the data, to check whether the interpretation is true to the data and the features identified are corroborated by other interviews. al., 2011) and the units of coding they have interpreted differently (Schreier, 2012). There is a need for a self-criticism and good analysis skills when conducting qualitative content analysis. Such terms are mainly rooted in a positivist conception of research. It is important to consider the sampling method used in qualitative studies (Creswell, 2013). The last criterion, authenticity, refers to the extent to which researchers, fairly and faithfully, show a range of realities (Lincoln & Guba, 1985; Polit & Beck, 2012). And Health services in municipalities led to improvements in the pilot phase mentioned earlier the organization phase includes open,... Previous studies, our own experiences, and objectivity 2008 ) the has! 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