Evidence-Based Practice for Nurses

Standards for Evaluating Qualitative Data

As with quantitative research, certain standard criteria are accepted for evaluat-

ing qualitative studies. These were developed because quantitative criteria such

as internal validity, external validity, generalizability, reliability, and objectivity

were for evaluating numbers and did not fit well when evaluating words. It is

expected that qualitative studies be conducted with extreme rigor because of the

potential for subjectivity that is inherent in this type of research. In addition to

addressing ethical issues, such as informed consent and use of data, qualitative

researchers are guided by the requirements for establishing trustworthiness of

the study. This is a more difficult task when dealing with words and people than

numbers and statistics. Lincoln and Guba (1985) proposed a different set of

criteria with unique terminology that is appropriate for evaluation of qualitative

research. These criteria are still considered to be a gold standard to establish

trustworthiness or rigor of a study (Houghton, Casey, Shaw, & Murphy, 2013).

Establishing Trustworthiness

Trustworthiness refers to the quality, the authenticity, and the truthfulness of

findings in qualitative research. It relates to the degree of trust, or confidence,

readers have in the results. Trustworthiness can be established by meeting four

criteria (Lincoln & Guba, 1985): credibility, transferability, dependability, and

confirmability. Box 14-3 provides a summary of strategies for meeting these

criteria. By maintaining an audit trail, researchers can demonstrate whether these

criteria are met. Auditability means that records maintained by the researcher

can be examined by others. For example, just like an auditor reviews financial

records to ensure ethical business practices are used, peer reviewers can evaluate

documents from qualitative studies to judge the trustworthiness of findings.

When another researcher can follow the audit trail, that researcher should arrive

at the same or similar conclusions. If contradictions about the conclusions exist,

then the trustworthiness of the study could be called into question.

Credibility

Credibility in qualitative research is akin to internal validity in quantitative

research. To meet the criterion of credibility, the research must be shown to be

authentic and truthful. The results should make sense and be believable. There

are many strategies to help establish and evaluate credibility. Researchers should

use well-established research methods and describe them with sufficient detail

so the study can be replicated. If a similar study can show similar results using

another method, credibility is supported.

Good interviewing skills help to establish credibility of the data. Shenton

(2004) suggested that specific questions be asked of participants to ensure that

KEY TERMS

trustworthiness:

The quality,

authenticity, and

truthfulness of

findings from

qualitative research

credibility: One

of four criteria

for establishing

a trustworthy

qualitative study;

refers to the truth

or believability of

findings

transferability:

One of four criteria

for a trustworthy

qualitative study

that relates to

whether findings

from one study can

be transferred to

a similar context;

application of

findings to a

different situation

dependability:

One of four criteria

for a trustworthy

qualitative study

that relates to

consistency in the

findings over time;

auditability; findings

are reflective of data

confirmability:

One of four criteria

for a trustworthy

qualitative study

that relates to the

rigorous attempts

to be objective and

the maintenance

of audit trails to

document the

research process;

findings can be

substantiated by

participants

392 CHAPTER 14 What Do the Qualitative Data Mean?