Issues of validity and reliability in qualitative research

Abstract

Evaluating the quality of research is essential if findings are to be utilised in practice and incorporated into care delivery. In a previous article we explored 'bias' across research designs and outlined strategies to minimise bias.1 The aim of this article is to further outline rigour, or the integrity in which a study is conducted, and ensure the credibility of findings in relation to qualitative research. Concepts such as reliability, validity and generalisability typically associated with quantitative research and alternative terminology will be compared in relation to their application to qualitative research. In addition, some of the strategies adopted by qualitative researchers to enhance the credibility of their research are outlined.Are the terms reliability and validity relevant to ensuring credibility in qualitative research?Assessing the reliability of study findings requires researchers and health professionals to make judgements about the 'soundness' of the research in relation to the application and appropriateness of the methods undertaken and the integrity of the final conclusions. Qualitative research is frequently criticised for lacking scientific rigour with poor justification of the methods adopted, lack of transparency in the analytical procedures and the findings being merely a collection of personal opinions subject to researcher bias. 2 3 For the novice researcher, demonstrating rigour when undertaking qualitative research is challenging because there is no of accepted consensus about the standards by which such research should be judged. 2Although the tests and measures used to establish the validity and reliability of quantitative research cannot be applied to qualitative research, there are ongoing debates about whether terms such as validity, reliability and generalisability are appropriate to evaluate qualitative research. [2][3][4] In the broadest context these terms are applicable, with validity referring to the integrity and application of the methods undertaken and the precision in which the findings accurately reflect the data, while reliability describes consistency within the employed analytical procedures.

Paradox of life among survivors of bladder cancer and treatments

“…To achieve methodological rigor of the study, the authors described the development of research in detail, selected participants who experienced the phenomenon of having cancer in follow-up care, conducted multiple data collection sessions with most participants, maintained longterm contact with them, used their accounts in the narratives, and described their life and clinical contexts. Each step of the analysis was developed in continuous discussion between the main investigator and advisor of the study, and the results are supported by current theory and literature (14) . Participants were six men and six women (Rubão, Manuel, Paulo, Antônio, Pedro, José, Lourdes, Rosa, Letícia, Ira, Ana, Marília), a homogeneous sample in regard to sex, aged between 57 and 82 years, the majority (8) were married, had a level of education that varied from incomplete primary education (5) to incomplete higher education (1) and retired (10), Catholic (8), and residents in the town and region of the study.…”

Teacher perceptions on the delivery and implementation of movement integration strategies: The CLASS PAL (Physically Active Learning) Programme

“…In order to establish the credibility and consistency of theme generation (Noble & Smith, 2015). The finalised codebook, and two randomly selected quotes for each theme, were shared with independent members of the research team (XXX and XX).…”

Parents’ online discussions about children’s dental caries: A critical content analysis

“…18 To enhance the truth-value of our research, we provide contributors' full quotes, without editing them in any way other than length, to allow the quotes to remain as true to their original poster's intent as possible. To maintain consistency, we created an "audit trail" by keeping a journal, during data collection and analysis, of decisions made as the project progressed.…”