Chapter Four: Research Design – Methods
4.10 Rigour and Trustworthiness
Rigour and trustworthiness in qualitative research are often called into account. Many question how the concepts of validity and reliability can be addressed to ensure that the findings in qualitative research are just and true. However, several researchers have made attempts to address these concerns in their qualitative studies, most notably Guba (1981), who suggests four main criteria that should always be considered in a
qualitative research study to achieve trustworthiness; credibility, transferability, dependability and conformability which together can address the evaluation of trustworthiness, or research rigour in a qualitative research study (Shenton, 2004).
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Research rigour in qualitative research is closely associated with the notion of credibility, which relates to internal validity. This seeks to ensure that the study
measures what it set out to measure. To apply this credibility in a qualitative study, the researcher must ask themselves how confident they are with the truth of their findings based on the context, their informants and the research design employed. A qualitative study can be seen as being credible when it can present accurate descriptions and interpretations of human experience that people can recognise (Krefting, 1991). The credibility of this ethnography was addressed by my consistently referring back to the research aims of the study throughout the research process. I maintained credibility throughout by making sure that the research aims have stayed true to the purpose of the study, and by having open communication with my supervisors and my university peers. Lincoln & Guba (1985) suggest methods to ensure the credibility of a qualitative research study. These include prolonged engagement in the field and with informants, through intense participation and familiarity and member checking which involves constantly testing with the informants the researcher‟s interpretations and conclusions to ensure accurate representation. To ensure that credibility of the ethnography was not an issue, these methods for credibility were also implemented in this ethnography. To begin with, I spent 16 months in the fieldwork site, attending different clinics at different times during the week as well as clinician information sessions and antenatal classes for the women as part of OptiBIRTH. Furthermore, I had monthly meetings with my supervisors as well as regular open email communication as I was based in a
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TCD with other students that were conducting research, which provided further support and advice on issues that I was unsure of. In terms of the member-checking to ensure credibility, the participants in the ethnography were given the option to review their interview transcripts for clarity and accuracy.
4.10.2 Transferability
Transferability relates to the concept of external validity and how generalizable the findings of the study are and whether they can be applied to other situations and larger populations. The challenge here is that qualitative research is designed to be particular to specific environments and populations and therefore it is impossible to “demonstrate that the findings and conclusions are applicable to other situations and populations” (Shenton, 2004, p.69). Guba (1981) suggests that the collection and development of thick description, as explored and described by Geertz (1973) will allow for comparison of the context of the study to other possible contexts which will permit the researcher to make the rational judgement as to whether transfer of context is possible. This process of transferability is the responsibility of the researcher and will be discussed in the final chapter where the relevance of the findings of this ethnography for other settings and future studies will be discussed.
4.10.3 Dependability
Dependability in qualitative research is akin to reliability in quantitative research and is concerned with the consistency of findings. This can prove problematic in qualitative research, in particular ethnography, as it is the nature of phenomena that is under
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investigation to change, even during the research process. To address this concern in this study, and to ensure trustworthiness in the findings, each part of the research process was reported in detail, including the limitations and the decision-making processes that occurred throughout the study. The concept of dependability can also be enhanced through the method of triangulation to “ensure that the weaknesses of one method of data collection are compensated by the use of alternative data-gathering methods” (Krefting, 1991, p.221). Due to the complexity of the intervention and the ethnography looking at the relationships between clinicians and women, a method of interviews, participant and non-participant observation and field-notes was
implemented, to ensure that a complete picture was recorded. These different sources of data can maximise the range of the data that is collected that will help to understand the concept as a whole. As Reeves et al (2008) conclude, the use of a triangulation method can become very useful, as what people say can contrast with the behaviours that they exhibit.
4.10.4 Confirmability
The final construct in ensuring trustworthiness in qualitative research is confirmability (Guba, 1981). Confirmability is associated with the objectivity of the research. This means that there are certain steps that should be taken in order to ensure that the neutrality of the data is considered carefully and fully. This is done through careful documentation for all claims and interpretations from their sources to confirm that the data are supportive of the researcher‟s analysis of findings. Another way of ensuring conformability is using reflexive analysis so that the researcher is aware of their
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influence on the data (Krefting, 1991). To encourage trustworthiness in the study, I maintained a reflexive journal which enabled me to record all of my insights and the ways in which I could have potentially influenced the research process. It provided an outlet for my thoughts and captured many ideas and insights that proved invaluable when it came to the in-depth analysis of the data. This is recommended by Liamputtong & Ezzy (2005) and, by storing my thoughts in this way, it helped with the final writing process.
4.11
Conclusion
This chapter details the methods used in conducting the ethnography. Data collection and analysis for this study took place over a period of 16 months, working on a full-time basis.
The process of sampling and data collection methods were discussed extensively
throughout this chapter. Ethical considerations were also addressed. The process of how datum were analysed has been explained in detail and how the rigour of the research was assured has been explored. The following section of this thesis will present the study‟s findings. This will be presented to you as the journey of the OptiBIRTH intervention through the field-site, from the recruitment phase to the antenatal classes and clinician information sessions and finally, the experiences of participants after they have completed the intervention. The following chapter will now begin this journey, with OptiBIRTH and its recruitment phase in the antenatal clinic.
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