Understanding Reliability and Validity in Qualitative ResearchGolafshani, N. (2003)
Qualitative Research
Triangulation
Then triangulation is defined to be “a validity procedure where researchers search for convergence among multiple and different sources of information to form themes or categories in a study” (Creswell & Miller, 2000, p. 126).
Proven method to improve validity and reliability of research
Engaging multiple methods of data collection and analysis: Observations, interviews, recordings,
The researcher is the instrument
Other adopted concepts
Trustwealthiness
Rigor
Quality
Examination of trustworthiness crucila
Seeks to understand"Naturalistic" phenomena in its real world settings
Quantitative resesearch
Reliability
3 types
Stability of measurement over time
Similarity of measurement within a given time period
Measure administered repetedly remain the same
Using test -retest methods at different times
Goal: Produces findings arrived from real world enviroment where phenomena unfolds slowly . Seek understanding,ilumination, and extrapolation to similar situations
Results are consistent over time or if the results could be reprocuded under a similar methodology
Validity
Goals: Determine whether the research measures what it was designed for or how truthfull the results are.
Grounded on positivistic assumptions
the world is made up of observable and measurable facts
Understanding and Validity in Qualitative Research Maxwell, J. (1992)
Types of validity
Evaluative Valididy
Generazability or external validity
Internal validity is more important
Two aspects
Generalizing to other communities. groups or institutions
Generalizing within the community. groups, or institutions studied to persons, events and settings that were not directly observed or interviwed.
Different from quantitative research. It is meant to theory building.
Theorethical
Macthes the idea of construct validity
Accoung functions as an explanation as well as description and interpretation of the phenomena
Interpretive
Grounded on the accounts of people under study - rely on people's words and concepts
understands phenomena from a emic rather than etic perspective. - meaning given by the actors
Descriptive
Includes the numerical description of the object under study- like descriptive stats
Not independent from theory
Reliability - a kind of threat to validity
Different observes or methods produce different descriptions of the same phenomenon
solved by acerting the differeces were due to obsever's different pespectives and purposes
Solved if observers agree on their descriptive accuracy
Secondary Validity
Includes inferences about the physical observation
Also called reportage or primary understanding
Capturing the activites, actions and behaviors as they occur instead of the meaning these have for the actors.
Goal: Understanding rather than valididy