Issues of validity and reliability in qualitative research

Issues of validity and reliability in qualitative researchHelen Noble,1 Joanna Smith2 Evaluating the quality of research is essential iffindingsare to be utilised in practice and incorporated into caredelivery. In a previous article we explored bias acrossresearch designs and outlined strategies to aim of this article is to further outline rigour,or the integrity in which a study is conducted, andensure the credibility offindings in relation to qualita-tive research . Concepts such as reliability , validity andgeneralisability typically associated with quantitativeresearch and alternative terminology will be comparedin relation to their application to qualitative research . Inaddition, some of the strategies adopted by qualitativeresearchers to enhance the credibility of their researchare the terms reliability and validity relevantto ensuring credibility in qualitativeresearch?Assessing the reliability of studyfindings requiresresearchers and health professionals to make judgementsabout the soundness of the research in relation to theapplication and appropriateness of the methods under-taken and the integrity of thefinal research is frequently criticised for lackingscientific rigour with poor justification of the methodsadopted, lack of transparency in the analytical proce-dures and thefindings being merely a collection of per-sonal opinions subject to researcher thenovice researcher, demonstrati

employed analytical procedures.4 However, if qualitative methods are inherently different from quantitative methods in terms of philosophical positions and purpose, then alterative frameworks for establishing rigour are appropriate.3 Lincoln and Guba5 offer alterna-tive criteria for demonstrating rigour within qualitative

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  Research, Methods, Quantitative, Qualitative, Qualitative research, Qualitative methods, Quantitative methods

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