Data quality control

In order to increase the credibility and reliability of the case study, the data base is collected from different sources. Reports, comments and notes were written each day after the field work to ensure that all the new information was captured and documented. In addition, there are several quality control measurements which have been taken into account in the process of conducting the field work illustrated as follows:

7.10.1 Triangulation

Triangulation has attracted most attention in qualitative research. Denzin (1970, P.297) cited in Flick (2007) conceptualizes it as “… the combination of methodologies in the study of the same phenomena”. The research uses several methods of collecting data in order to establish confidence that the events had actually occurred. If the study showed that the information from interviews, documents and direct observations all pointed in the same direction, then data triangulation had been achieved and with such converging evidence, “the researcher might even feel very confident about your conclusion that the event had occurred” (Yin, 1993, p. 69). This type of triangulation is the most desired pattern for dealing with case study data in order to achieve an outcome. Moreover, the researcher did a pilot test in order to eliminate any confusion and problems with the research questions and to check information for reliability and construct validity. Data collection was carried out with developed protocol, instruments and other tools which used time and effort. The collected data from documents, interviews, questionnaires and the researcher‟s own observations were corroborated with the view of getting an accurate picture of the situation on the ground.

Some critics inhibit triangulation because of the assumption that observation is mainly useful to describe behavior and events, while interviewing is mainly useful for obtaining the perspectives of actors. We can consider that this is true but the immediate result of observation is description, and this is equally true of interviewing. Based on Maxwell (2005, p. 94), interviewing is often an efficient and valid way of understanding someone‟s perspective. Observation can enable you to draw inferences about this perspective that you could not obtain by relying exclusively on interview data. Interviews can provide additional information that was missed in observation, and can be used to check the accuracy of the observations. In both of these situations, triangulation of observations and interviews can provide a more complete and accurate account than either could do alone.

7.10.2 Validity and reliability

All scientific researches need to be objective, particularly in social research which relies on qualitative methods. In a case study design, consideration is given to create designs with internal and external validity as well as reliability. Objectivity is the simultaneous realization of the two

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components; reliability and validity as much as possible. Internal validity can be achieved through the specification of the units of analysis, the development of prior theories, and the collection and analysis of data to test these theories. Similarly, external validity can be achieved through the specification of theoretical relationships from which generalizations can then be made (Yin, 1993, p. 40).

1. Internal validity

Validation in qualitative research is an attempt to assess the accuracy of the findings by the researcher and the participants. Internal validity is concerned only with causal or explanatory case studies, in which an investigator is trying to understand. The researchers depend on case studies and always face challenges of how to ensure that their conclusions and explanations derived from the different collected information are valid and not accidental (Yin, 2003, p. 36). The researcher will infer that a particular event resulted from some earlier occurrence, based on interview and documentary evidence collected as part of the case study. Lincoln and Guba (1985) have used alternative terms to establish trustworthiness of a study such as credibility, authenticity, transferability, dependability and to confirm ability as the naturalist‟s equivalents for internal validation, external validation, reliability and objectivity. They propose techniques to manage these terms such as prolonged engagement in the field and the triangulation of data of sources to establish credibility. Internal validity emphasizes that the researchers employed accepted strategies to document the accuracy of their studies (Creswell, 2007, pp. 202-207). From the early stages of the field work, the researcher will ensure the authenticity of the data used. Therefore, three tactics are used to increase validity. The first tactic is concerned with data collection. Data on the same issues will be collected from different sources and later will be triangulated in a manner to test convergent lines of inquiry and divergence. The second tactic is to establish a chain of evidence, also related to data collection. The third tactic is to have feedback from key informants by assessing the researcher‟s interpretations or written conclusions that actually reflect the perspectives and opinions of the informants (Yin, 2003, p. 36).

2. External validity (generalization or transferability)

External validity is based on establishing the domain to which the findings of the study can be generalized beyond the particular case study and confirms that the process and the output conclusions can be generalized beyond that case. The researcher must argue that his findings can be generalized beyond the immediate case study as it will be useful to others in similar situations with similar research questions. This generalization is a great weakness of qualitative research. In quantitative research, it is easier to generalize depending on the correct size of the sample and that all other things are equal. Some critics argue that a case study offers a poor basis for generalization because it lacks its rigorous techniques. Yin (1994& 2003) opposes these critics by saying that the case study approach relies on concepts, models and on theoretical generalization as:

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“The analogy to samples and universes is incorrect when dealing with case studies. This is because survey research relies on statistical generalization, whereas case studies rely on analytical generalization” Yin (1994, P.36).

Another strategy that can be used to solve the problem of external validity is triangulation where the application of different researchers uses different data collection methods to collect evidence from multiple sources. Thus, the use of observations, interviews with local inhabitants and key informants, mental mapping and documentary methods are meant to collect evidence about the development of a sustainable community, establishment of partnership and initiation of sustainable urban regeneration in the traditional quarter. Thus, the researcher will triangulate the information of different resources to make the findings externally valid.

3. Reliability

Reliability is the degree to which the finding is independent of accidental circumstances of the research in which it can be repeated, with the same results. It must ensure that if another investigator follows the same procedures as described by an earlier investigator and conducts the same case study all over again, he should arrive at the same findings and conclusions. The goal of reliability is to minimize the errors and biases in a study (Yin, 2003, p. 38). Validity is the degree to which the findings are interpreted in a correct way. On the other hand, perfect validity would assure perfect reliability, for every observation would yield the complete and exact truth (Kirk & Miller, 1986, p. 20). Standard „validity‟ and „reliability‟ notions should be applied throughout the subsequent running of the case study, and not just at the beginning (Yin, 2003, pp. 38-39). However, the research strategy which is based on a case study approach will be applied to Birzeit town. The research can target other Palestinian cities that share the same physical characteristics of the case study in general. In a broad perspective, the traditional quarters of Palestinian cities have similar context, challenges and factors which influence their decline and development process. For example, the analytical approach of the driving forces affecting the urban change of the traditional quarters is developed from the theoretical debates and challenges of urban developments which can be generalized in other Palestinian towns and comparable cities.

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Map 8-1: Regional location of Birzeit town

Source: Riwaq, 2005