Research Credibility and Trustworthiness

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Questions and Answers

What does the trustworthiness or rigor of a study primarily refer to?

The number of researchers involved in the study

The degree of confidence in data, interpretation, and methods (correct)

The financial backing for the research

The popularity of the research topic

Which aspect is crucial for establishing credibility in a research study?

The number of participants in the study

The alignment of findings with reality (correct)

The aesthetic design of the research publication

The researcher’s previous publications

What is one downside of using random sampling in research?

It provides too much control over participant selection

It requires a larger sample size than other methods

It always leads to bias in the data

It may include uncooperative individuals in the sample (correct)

What is triangulation in the context of research?

Employing diverse research methods or sources for corroboration Signup and view all the answers

Why is prolonged engagement important in a research study?

It builds trust and understanding between the researcher and participants Signup and view all the answers

Which tactic is primarily used to ensure truthful communication from informants?

Iterative Questioning Signup and view all the answers

What does confirmability establish in qualitative research?

Achieving credibility, dependability, and transferability Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a representational style of qualitative data?

Analytical Signup and view all the answers

In qualitative research, what is the main purpose of evoking vivid imagery?

To recapture events and experiences Signup and view all the answers

What does transferability refer to in the context of qualitative research?

The extent to which findings can be generalized Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes a 'realist' style of qualitative data representation?

It provides factual representation without researcher interpretation. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key element of the qualitative research process regarding data presentation?

Highlighting key themes and findings Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect is not typically considered under the concept of dependability?

The authenticity of participant perspectives Signup and view all the answers

What is the main focus of discourse analysis?

Examining communication in social context Signup and view all the answers

Which tense should be used in a dissertation?

Past tense Signup and view all the answers

What is the first stage of quantitative data analysis?

Summarizing and describing data Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a key step in writing a literature review?

Write directly without an outline Signup and view all the answers

What is a common method of data collection in quantitative research?

Surveys Signup and view all the answers

What does quantification in data summarization refer to?

Expressing results as percentages Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes an 'identifier' in quantitative research?

A section dealing with specific variables Signup and view all the answers

How is frequency used in summarizing quantitative data?

To measure how often a variable appears Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Trustworthiness or Rigor of a Study

Refers to the degree of confidence in data, interpretation, and methods used to ensure the quality of a study
Essential for a study to be considered worthy of consideration by readers

Credibility

Measure of the truth value or whether the study's findings are correct and accurate
Relies on the credibility of the researchers themselves, as well as their research methods
"How congruent are the findings with reality?"

Tactics to Ensure Honesty in Informants

Adoption of well-established research methods:
- Incorporate correct operational measures for the concepts being studied
- Specific procedures employed (line of questioning, data analysis methods) should be derived from those successfully used in previous comparable projects
Development of early familiarity with the culture of participating organizations:
- Prolonged engagement between the investigator and participants to gain understanding of the organization and establish trust
Random sampling:
- Downside: Researcher has no control over the choice of informants, potentially selecting quiet, uncooperative, or inarticulate individuals
Triangulation:
- Triangulation of research methods (focus groups, observations, interviews)
- Triangulation of sources (verifying information from multiple sources)
- Triangulation of documents (verifying documented information)
Informed consent:
- Necessary for ethical research
Iterative Questioning:
- Asking follow-up questions to clarify and ensure understanding
Peer Scrutiny of the Research Project:
- Review by other researchers to ensure rigor and quality
Background, Qualifications and Experience of the Investigator:
- Credibility of the researcher is important

Transferability

Applies to external validity (generalizing findings to other situations, people, settings, and measures)
Concerned with the extent to which findings can be applied to other situations

Dependability

Consistency of the findings if the study was repeated

Confirmability

Established when credibility, dependability, and transferability are achieved
Confirmation of the findings by other researchers

The Power of Qualitative Data

Evoke vivid imagery
Recapture events:
- Example: The Role of the media on the development of Black Consciousness, identity, and social change
Give an account of participant’s lived experiences:
- Example: Ethnography or autoethnography - How are female activists harassed online/offline spaces?
Create narratives/stories about real events
Make knowledge claims:
- Example: Decolonial research using specific knowledge canons from your culture
Experience vicariously (ethnography)
Summarized account of events
Setting the scene with vivid depictions of the research environment
Important themes, codes, and categories found in data
Literal and figurative interpretations of the data/research environment
Focus on what the researcher thinks the audience should know, based on research questions
Illustrate key findings and analytic concepts
Full range of evidence
Appraise the theoretical and personal grounds of the researcher's perspective

Representational Style of Qualitative Data

Impressionist:
- Focusing on significant events, digging deep/powerful impression
Confessional:
- Reflexive, focusing on the researcher's experiences and actions
Realist:
- Factual representation of data with no deviations as interpreted by the researcher
- Example: Journalistic reporting

Processing and Analyzing Qualitative Data

Content analysis:
- Categorizing and discussing the meaning of words, phrases, and sentences
Thematic analysis:
- Coding and closely examining the data to identify broad themes and patterns
Discourse analysis:
- Studying communication and meaning in relation to their social context

Quantitative Data Analysis

Describe, interpret, explain, and evaluate
Quantitative research uses numeric/statistical data
Data collection methods:
- Questionnaires or surveys (standardized format, set questions with set answers)
- More generalizable
- Probability sampling

Advantages and Limitations of Quantitative Data

Advantages:
- Generalizability
- Statistical analysis
Limitations:
- Limited depth
- Might miss nuanced information

Three Stages of Quantitative Data Analysis

Summarizing and describing data collected
Identifying key variables in the data to answer research questions
Exploring and testing relationships between data

Variables

A person, place, thing, or phenomenon that you are trying to measure in some way

Identifiers and Coding

Identifier: Select sections of the questionnaire dealing with specific variables (age, race, gender, preferences)
- Assist with preliminary analysis
- Categorization of data
- Anonymizing and removing confidential information
- Handling partially completed questionnaires

Summarizing Quantitative Data

Frequency: How frequently a variable/code/identifier appeared
Distribution across codes:
- Example: How many respondents chose each option for a particular question
Summarizing data:
- Frequencies and distribution (overview)
Quantification: Out of 100% relating to a specific variable

Literature Reviews

Essential for:
- Identifying existing research on a topic
- Determining trends or patterns
- Aggregating empirical findings
- Generating new frameworks and theories
- Identifying gaps requiring further research

5 Key Steps to Writing a Literature Review

Search for relevant literature
Evaluate sources
Identify themes, debates, and gaps
Outline the structure
Write the literature review

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Description

Explore the key concepts surrounding the trustworthiness and credibility of research studies. This quiz delves into the importance of reliable methods, accurate interpretation, and the role of the researcher in ensuring data integrity. Test your understanding of tactics that enhance honesty in informants and the significance of established procedures in research.