DATA VERIFICATION

Data verification in qualitative research focuses on the trustworthiness of the findings or results of a research study. It is also based on the consistency of the research methods used and it provides an accurate representation of the population being studied (Thomas & Magivy, 2011:151).

Qualitative research studies do not make use of the traditional criteria for research validity, namely internal and external validity, reliability and objectivity. This poses a challenge for qualitative researchers. Guba‟s model for the verification of qualitative data (in Krefting, 1991:214-222) was designed to use as a framework to ensure the validity of qualitative research. The methods for data verification in Guba‟s model are truth value, applicability, consistency and neutrality. Schurink et al. (2011:429) adapted this framework. The methods used for data verification according to the latter framework are credibility, transferability, reliability and conformability. The researcher used the methods of Schurink et al. to validate the qualitative data in this

study. These methods were described in Chapter 1. The method, with its accompanying strategies and implementation, are illustrated in Table 2.4 below.

Table 2.4: Data verification

The authenticity of the research findings was ensured through the use of an interview schedule with guiding questions (see Section 2.2.4.3).

Interviewing techniques

Interviewing techniques such as minimal non-verbal

responses, encouragement, reflective summaries and probing were used to explore the research questions thoroughly and to enhance the communication process. The implementation of the techniques is explained in Section 2.2.4.3.

Data analysis The researcher employed Tesch‟s eight steps to analyse the qualitative data to ensure that the findings are a true reflection of the data obtained from the participants (see Section 2.2.5).

Independent coder

An independent coder, who applied the same framework mentioned above, was used to ensure that the researcher‟s own interpretation did not influence the credibility of the qualitative data obtained.

Transferability Contextual research design

The contextual research design placed the findings within a rural context. The findings of this research study could therefore be transferred to rural areas.

Purposive

The contextual research design informed the researchers‟

choice of the sampling method and sampling techniques. The non-probability sampling method with the purposive snowball sampling techniques were used to ensure that the inclusion criteria of the study was clear, and that the findings were applicable to adolescents with addicted parents in rural areas (see Section 2.2.3).

A thick description of the research methodology

The researcher provided a thorough description of the research methodology implemented in this chapter to ensure that the research data and findings could be transferrable to other contexts.

Transferability was supported by the fact that the findings of this study were also verified with various sources from literature. this chapter, contributed to the consistency and dependability of the findings.

Data analysis The researcher implemented this strategy of data verification by using a coding system to group the qualitative data into the identified themes and sub-themes. The same coding system was implemented by the independent coder, which further ensured the consistency of the findings (see Section 2.2.5).

Conformability The use of interviewing techniques

The conformability of this study focused on ensuring the neutrality of the qualitative data. It was based on the interviewing techniques the researcher used to ensure that participants‟ responses were not guided and influenced by the researcher.

Tape recordings and field notes

The researcher made use of tape recordings and field notes to ensure that data did not get lost and that the verbatim

responses of participants were appropriately recorded and documented.

The use of an independent coder

The researcher made use of an independent coder to support the findings and the interpretation of the data and to ensure that the researcher did not influence the qualitative data being obtained.

In addition, the researcher considered the fact that, in qualitative research, the researcher is the instrument of construction. To further ensure the validity of the qualitative data, the researcher made use of Maxwell‟s five categories of validity in qualitative research (Maxwell, 1992:37-64) and Auerbach and Silverstein‟s (2003) category of transferability as described by Thomson (2011:77-82):

 Descriptive validity refers to the accuracy of the data. The data must accurately reflect the truth of the data (Maxwell, 1992:47). The researcher attempted to accurately describe the data by means of transcripts of verbatim responses. No information was left out or changed in order to ensure descriptive validity. The use of an independent coder assisted the researcher to ensure descriptive validity.

 Interpretive validity refers to how well the researcher reports the participants‟

descriptions and meanings attached to events, objects and/or behaviours (Maxwell, 1992:49). The researcher made an effort to not make interpretations based on her own judgements, but rather based on the use of the transcripts that included both the verbal and non-verbal data to justify interpretations.

 Theoretical validity “goes beyond concrete description and interpretation and explicitly addresses the theoretical constructions that the researcher brings to, or develops during, the study” (Maxwell, 1992:50). The researcher did a literature

control once the themes and sub-themes were identified through data analysis.

The themes and sub-themes were supported by verbatim quotes and by literature on the subject.

 Generalisability also refers to transferability (Auerbach & Silverstein, 2003). To ensure transferability of the research findings to other applicable studies and contexts, the researcher made use of the purposive sampling technique and snowball sampling technique, and provided a thorough description of the implementation of the research methodology.

 Evaluative validity focuses less on the data and more on the researcher‟s evaluation of the data. In order to ensure the evaluative validity of this research, the researcher based her own evaluation on the findings that emanated from the data analysis process. In addition, the implementation of the methodology was described in depth to indicate why the researcher was able to come to certain conclusions (Thomson, 2011:77-82).

This study included the implementation of principles of ethical social research, which will be discussed next.