Trustworthiness in Qualitative Research

Our research experts understand that the pillars of trustworthiness in qualitative research are credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability. Our explanation of trustworthiness and examples are based on Lincoln and Guba’s, Rachel F. Adler’s, Creswell’s, and Lynne M. Connelly’s arguments, because they are renown leaders in the concepts. In the subsequent section, we explain the different options for ensuring data trustworthiness in qualitative research, so that your readers have confidence in the study findings. We also answer the commonly asked questions and summarize the discussion with an image of trustworthiness in qualitative research.

Credibility in Qualitative Research

Credibility involves a qualitative researcher providing evidence that the findings and interpretations are plausible. Ensuring credibility, specifically, that the findings accurately reflect reality as seen by participants can be achieved through prolonged engagement, persistent observation, triangulation, peer debriefing, and member checking. Prolonged engagement would involve collecting data over extended periods after investing sufficient time in learning about the culture or building trust with participants, to understand the scope of the phenomena. Persistent observation involves a qualitative researcher continuing data collection to promote identifying and assessing silent factors and assessing adequate detail to identify relevant and irrelevant data.

Triangulation can be; data triangulation, methodology triangulation, theory triangulation, and/or investigator triangulation. Data trustworthiness in qualitative research can be promoted through data triangulation, where researchers collect data from multiple sources, such as interviews, focus groups, observations, and document analysis. Methodology triangulation is achieved when research or a study is conducted using a mixed-methodology approach. Theory triangulation is accomplished when a qualitative researcher uses multiple theories and models to provide the study with a scholarly underpinning. Investigator triangulation is achieved when a study is conducted by more than one researcher, who all provide input during data collection, analysis, and interpretation.

Peer debriefing can be done to promote credibility by engaging in analytical discussions on data collection, data analysis, and interpretation with neutral peers. Member checks are done by sending participants a summary of the results so that they can confirm or disconfirm whether the findings represent their responses. Member checks can also be done with experts in the field or dissertation committee, which allows testing the veracity of the data, analytic categories, coders, themes, interpretation, discussion, and conclusions.

In most qualitative research credibility is promoted through triangulation, peer debriefing, and member checking. Prolonged engagement and persistent observation are often challenging, especially if the qualitative research time frame is limited. If you are required to describe appropriate strategies to establish credibility, our research data experts can help. Talk to us, we are knowledgeable in trustworthiness in qualitative research examples.

Transferability in Qualitative Research

Transferability refers to the applicability of qualitative findings to other contexts. Readers determine transferability, which makes it essential for qualitative researchers to use thick descriptions to ensure transferability. Thick descriptions of the data analysis process, data collection procedure, recruitment, sampling, participants’ demographics, and methodology rationale can assist readers in determining whether the findings are applicable in their context. A Thick description can promote data trustworthiness. Ensuring transferability and trustworthiness in qualitative research example is providing a thick description. Need to describe appropriate strategies to establish transferability? Talk to our research data experts, they can help.

Dependability in Qualitative Research

Dependability refers to the reliability of qualitative research, which can be promoted through inductive coding, an audit trail, and an in-depth description of the methodology used. Inductive coding involves retrieving findings from participants’ responses, which supports that the findings are based on the collected data. An audit trail involves recording the major activities performed, including data collection instruments development, data reduction, data analysis, and rationales on concepts such as the chosen design and sampling strategy applied. Having difficulty describing appropriate strategies to establish dependability? Don’t struggle anymore, our qualitative experts have the solution.

Confirmability in Qualitative Research

Confirmability refers to the capacity for how authentic the findings, interpretation, and recommendations are in qualitative research. Confirmability is promoted by maintaining a reflective journal, supporting the findings with participants’ verbatim responses, and interpreting results in reference to the published literature or proven theories. Confirmability promotes trustworthiness by providing evidence that qualitative findings and interpretations were not based on the researchers’ imagination. Is it a challenge for you to describe appropriate strategies to establish confirmability? Let our qualitative data analysts help.

Answers to Commonly Asked Questions on Trustworthiness in Qualitative Research

What are the 4 components of trustworthiness? In qualitative research, the four components of trustworthiness are credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability.

What are the 4 pillars of trustworthiness? According to Lincoln and Guba, Rachel F. Adler, Creswell, and Lynne M. Connelly, the four pillars of trustworthiness in qualitative research are credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability.

What are the 4 criteria by which the rigor of a qualitative project can be judged? The four criteria that a qualitative project can be judged are credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability.

What is the difference between credibility and trustworthiness in qualitative research? Credibility is one of the criteria that rigor in a qualitative project, dissertation, or research can be assessed. Conversely, trustworthiness refers to the extent to which one has confidence in the qualitative findings. As such, credibility is one of the ways trustworthiness in qualitative research can be promoted.

Image of Trustworthiness in Qualitative Research

Get research expert help in promoting the trustworthiness of your qualitative research. Lincoln and Guba, Rachel F. Adler, Creswell, and Lynne M. Connelly explanation of trustworthiness in qualitative research provides the premise for our rationales. Ensuring trustworthiness is simple with our research expertise. Contact us now.