Credibility strategies

This is an alternative to internal validity. Multiple strategies are identified and carried out in qualitative inquiry to ensure that the findings are presented in a manner that makes them credible. Credibility means that the participants recognise the meaning that they themselves give to a situation or condition and the truth of the findings of their own social context (Halloway & Wheeler, 2010:303). Here the researcher will describe the activities that were carried out to increase the likelihood of producing credible findings. These activities include:

2.7.1.1 Prolonged engagement in the field

The researcher conducted qualitative research that used multiple case studies. This required that she spent significant time in the field for data collection. Time was devoted before the commencement of the interviews to explain the purpose of the study in detail and allow the participants to ask questions (Taylor, et al. 2016:49).

Building rapport with adolescents is an extremely important step before data collection. Culturally, the elderly are not fond of sharing their ‘household’ stories with strangers, so it was important for the researcher to allow time for the participants to get accustomed to her and build a relationship of trust. Hence, the researcher spent significant time giving the participants information about the study and answering questions. Interviews were scheduled which lasted 40-60 minutes. Time was dedicated for clarity on what the participants had said.

2.7.1.2 Reflexivity (reflexive journal)

Simon and Cassell (2012:73) state that reflexivity is a complex process since it goes above and beyond simple reflection on the research process. It is a process of critically reflecting on the self as a researcher, and the human as an instrument of data collection (Denzin & Lincoln, 2011:124). It is a conscious experiencing of the self as both an investigator and participant and forces the researcher to come to

69 terms with the self and with the multiple identities that represent the self in the research setting (Denzin & Lincoln, 2011:124). Thus, a researcher not only brings the self in the research field, but also creates the self in the field. The self, brought and created in the research field, falls into three categories, namely research-based self, brought self (the self that creates our standpoints and views), and situationally created self. As a consequence, each of these selves, brought and created in the research field, have a distinct voice and come into play in the research setting, hence, the process of reflexivity becomes integral in postmodern research.

Reflexivity involves reflecting on how the researcher’s intellectual, perceptual, cultural and cognitive processes inform the overall interpretation of the findings (Simon & Cassell, 2012:73). Reflexivity demands that researchers interrogate the self in relation to research efforts and how the elements in the researcher’s background shape the interactions between the researcher and participant, and the writing process.

To enhance reflexivity, field notes were written during the interview sessions. These notes allowed the researcher to critically reflect on the interactions that occurred during the interview sessions. These notes reflected the researcher’s feelings and ideas generated by being in contact with the participants. These notes were incorporated into the verbatim record and analysed.

2.7.1.3 Triangulation

Triangulation involves the use of multiple methods in the conduct of a study to enhance the credibility of findings and also ensures that the phenomenon under study is understandable (Yin, 2014:120). The methods that were used in applying triangulation in this study were in-depth phenomenological interviews with female adolescents and grandmothers, multiple case studies, incorporating field notes during the analysis phase, the use of an independent coder for data analysis, the consensus discussions with the independent coder, and literature control to recontextualise the findings.

70 2.7.1.4 Peer examination

This study, from planning to implementation, was subjected to the critical reviews of the research supervisors who have extensive experience in qualitative research.

Again, the use of the independent coder allowed for neutrality in analysis and truthfulness in the interpretation of the data.

2.7.1.5 Member checking

In this study, member checking began at the point of data collection. Interview techniques, including seeking clarity, probes and summarisation, were used with all participants with the goal of attaining more information and clarification on what the participant said. After the data were analysed, the researcher went back to evaluate the findings with the participants. This was done to evaluate the interpretations and conclusions the researcher had drawn.

2.7.1.6 Peer evaluation

In this study, the method, phenomenon and the researcher’s interpretation of the data were presented to peers outside of the study who are experts in research forums and conferences. The peers provided debate and comments on the steps of the research process.

2.7.1.7 Authority of the researcher

The researcher participated successfully in the pre-doctoral programme at the University of Johannesburg, where research methodology was taught. The researcher also has 10 years’ experience in the field as a nurse and has worked closely with a Non-Governmental Organisation that deals with HIV and AIDS in Eswatini. Therefore, as a researcher, she had the authority to conduct this study.

71 2.7.1.8 Structural coherence of the study

Structural coherence ensures that there are no inconsistencies between the data and their interpretations (De Vos, et al. 2015:420). In this study, structural coherence was ensured by the researcher’s strict focus on female adolescents living with HIV to facilitate their self-management of HIV. The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of the experiences of female adolescents living with HIV and their grandmothers who care for them, to develop a conceptual framework and nursing strategies to be used as a framework of reference to facilitate self-management of HIV by female adolescents living with HIV in Eswatini.