validity and reliability in qualitative research

MJA guidelines for assessing qualitative research Instead, terms such as rigour (thoroughness and appropriateness of the use of research methods), credibility (meaningful, well presented findings) and relevance (utility of findings) are used to judge the quality or “trustworthiness” of a study (see Box 1 for definitions of some common terms in qualitative research). 15, 16 The conventional methodological criteria of quantitative research - validity, reliability and empirical generalisability - are generally not directly applied to qualitative research because of the different frameworks, sampling approaches, size of sample and goals of qualitative research. Data collection is by formal rules of procedure and verification, analysis is through the use of standardised statistical formats, and prediction and empirical generalisation are the desired outcomes. In contrast, most quantitative research is concerned with measuring the magnitude, size or extent of a phenomenon. 11 - 14 The capacity to make conceptual generalisations from the local context of a qualitative study to other settings is the desired outcome. Its goal is to explore the behaviour, processes of interaction, and the meanings, values and experiences of purposefully sampled individuals and groups in their “natural” context. Qualitative research methods include the techniques of interviewing, observation, and document analysis.

Most commonly, qualitative research is concerned with the systematic collection, ordering, description and interpretation of textual data generated from talk, observation or documentation. We expect that authors who submit work for publication that adheres to the suggestions in this article will increase the likelihood of acceptance for publication and, more importantly, will enhance the transferability of findings into policy and practice in the future. 2 - 10 In this article, we provide definitions and standards for qualitative research that can be used for assessment. 1 The increased interest in this form of research has led to concerns by readers and reviewers about the assessment of quality. In addition, an expanding interest in examining the attitudes, beliefs and experiences of those involved or affected by the delivery of health care have brought qualitative research into the spotlight. Recently, there has been an increasing recognition by evidence-based clinical researchers that it is important to look towards qualitative research.

R esearch in health care, especially clinical medicine, is an increasingly complex field that ranges from small-scale, cutting-edge benchtop science to large-scale population studies. Statistics, epidemiology and research design.

Validity and reliability in qualitative research