The importance of credibility in qualitative research:

Credibility is qualitative research is analogous to internal validity in quantitative research.
Trustworthiness of research depends on whether data reflects attitude/opinions/perceptions of pps (not researchers).
Some argue that quantitative principles should be applied to qualitative research (internal/external validity/objectivity).
Then qualitative research is invalid and lacks credibility.
Others argue that qualitative research is a different paradigm and therefore not subject to the same treatment as quantitative.
Credibility and validity can be reinterpreted as trustworthiness for the purposes of qualitative research.
Trustworthiness may be more applicable to qualitative research because of the very nature of qualitative research.
Researchers must document their methods and findings meticulously, so that others can examine them and see why they interpreted the results the way that they did.
There is no objective criteria for testing trustworthiness.
Can be considered trustworthy if the reader considers it trustworthy (Rolfe 2006).
Peer review is the best (only) method to verify trustworthiness.

Using triangulation to improve trustworthiness:

Triangulation means approaching the question using different perspectives.
Method triangulation: Use qualitative and quantitative methods and compare results (hope for convergence - results agree).
Data triangulation: Compare different sources (observations/interviews) or participants (Cocaine and Heroine addicts).
Researcher triangulation: Use several observers or interviewers. Compare collection and interpretation of data.
Theory triangulation: Look at the data from different theoretical perspectives.

Triangulation can improve trustworthiness because a variety of perspectives are used to look at the research process.
Can help confirm conclusions drawn from other perspectives.
But no set way to find absolute truth so shouldn't worry too much about trustworthiness (Hammersley 1992).
Cannot create objective criteria for trustworthiness and because we are dealing with data that is subjective (can be interpreted differently).

Using Reflexivity to improve trustworthiness:

Reflexivity is being aware of how your beliefs/attitudes can affect the interpretation of data.
Reflect upon how your bias' might affect the interpretation of the data.
Being reflexive can reduce bias and increase the trustworthiness of the data.
Personal refexivity: How researchers beliefs/attitudes have influenced research. How doing the research has influenced the researcher.
Epistomological reflexivity: Relates to how knowledge has been created in the study. Have our methods limited possible findings? Has the design or way the data was analysed influenced results? Could there be other designs or ways of analysing the data?
Some researchers think reflexivity is important, others don't.

	Created by leonie1997 over 10 years ago

Psychology (Research Methods) Note on Qualitative and Quantitative Research , created by leonie1997 on 25/04/2014.