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Validity in Qualitative Research Explained

Validity in qualitative research refers to the accuracy and truthfulness of research findings. It is a controversial issue with debates around how it should be defined and ensured. Traditional quantitative criteria like internal validity, external validity, and reliability cannot always be directly applied to qualitative methods. Alternative frameworks have been proposed, including Lincoln and Guba's criteria of credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability. Ensuring validity in qualitative research involves techniques like using skilled moderators, triangulating data collection, and respondent validation to check initial findings. Some qualitative researchers reject notions of absolute validity and truth, given philosophical perspectives that question an objective external reality.

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25 views3 pages

Validity in Qualitative Research Explained

Validity in qualitative research refers to the accuracy and truthfulness of research findings. It is a controversial issue with debates around how it should be defined and ensured. Traditional quantitative criteria like internal validity, external validity, and reliability cannot always be directly applied to qualitative methods. Alternative frameworks have been proposed, including Lincoln and Guba's criteria of credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability. Ensuring validity in qualitative research involves techniques like using skilled moderators, triangulating data collection, and respondent validation to check initial findings. Some qualitative researchers reject notions of absolute validity and truth, given philosophical perspectives that question an objective external reality.

Uploaded by

Serawit Dejene
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© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Validity in qualitative research

Introduction
In this section we will learn about validity which is concerned with acceptability. Validity in
qualitative research means “suitability” of the implements, procedures, and information in a
document. Whether the research question is valid for the desired outcome, the choice of
methodology is appropriate for answering the research question, the design is valid for the
methodology, the sampling and data analysis is applicable, and lastly the outcomes and
conclusions are valid for the sample and context. In measuring validity of qualitative
research, the encounter can start from the ontology and epistemology of the issue being
studied, e.g. the concept of “individual” is seen differently between humanistic and positive
psychologists due to contradictory philosophical viewpoints or outlooks where humanistic
psychologists have faith in “individual” is a product of existential consciousness and social
communication or contact, positive psychologists think the “individual” exists side-by-side
with formation of any human being. Set off in diverse pathways, qualitative research
regarding the individual's wellbeing will be concluded with varying validity. Choice of
methodology must enable detection of findings/phenomena in the appropriate context for it to
be valid, with due regard to culturally and contextually variable. For sampling, procedures
and methods must be appropriate for the research pattern and be distinct between systematic,
purposeful or theoretical (adaptive) sampling where the systematic sampling has no a
priori theory, purposeful sampling often has a definite goal or outline and theoretical
sampling is shaped by the ongoing process of data collection and theory in development in
progress.

Validity in qualitative research

Validity is generally defined as the state of being well grounded or justifiable, relevant,
significant, rational, confirming to receive values or the quality of being sound, just, and well
founded. The matters surrounding the use and nature of the term validity in qualitative
research are controversial and several. It is a highly argued issue both in social and
educational research and is still often a subject of debate. The traditional criteria
for validity find their origins in a positivist tradition, and to an extent, positivism has been
defined by a systematic theory of validity. Validity is rooted from empirical conceptions as
universal laws, evidence, objectivity, truth, actuality, deduction, reason, fact, and
mathematical data, to name only a few. Validity in research is concerned with the accuracy
and truthfulness of scientific findings. A valid study should demonstrate what actually exists
and is accurate, and a valid instrument or measure should actually measure what it is
supposed to measure.

Although the tests and measures used to create the validity and dependability of quantitative
research cannot be functional to qualitative research, there are ongoing arguments about
whether terms such as validity, reliability and generalizability are applicable to assess
qualitative research. In the broadest context these terms are relevant, with validity referring to
the integrity and use of the methods undertaken and the exactness in which the findings
accurately reflect the data, while reliability describes consistency within the employed logical
processes. However, if qualitative methods are integrally unlike from quantitative methods in
terms of philosophical situations and purpose, then alterative frameworks for creating rigidity
are proper. Lincoln and Guba offer alternative criteria for establishing rigour within
qualitative research namely truth value, consistency and neutrality and applicability.
Below outlines the differences in terminology and criteria used to evaluate qualitative
research.
Traditional criteria for judging alternative criteria for judging
Quantitative research qualitative research
Internal validity credibility
External validity transferability
Reliability dependability
Objectivity conformability

Steps in Ensuring Validity


The first step in ensuring validity is choosing a well-trained and skilled mediator or
facilitator.  A good moderator will check personal bias and expectations at the door.  He or
she is interested in learning as much candid information from the research participants as
possible, and respectful impartiality is a must if the goal is valid qualitative research.  For this
aim, organizations often employ mediators from outside the group or organization to help
guarantee that the replies are genuine and not influenced by “what we want to hear.”  For
some academic applications, the moderator will disclose his or her perspectives and biases in
the reporting of the data as a matter of full disclosure.
Another way to promote validity is to employ a strategy known as triangulation.  To
accomplish this, the research is done from multiple perspectives. This could take the form of
using several moderators, different locations, multiple individuals analysing the same data . . .
essentially any technique that would inform the results from different angles.   For some
applications, for example, an organization may choose to run focus groups in parallel through
two entirely different validity in qualitative research can also be checked by a technique
known as respondent validation.  This technique involves testing initial results with
participants to see if they still ring true. Although the research has been interpreted and
condensed, participants should still recognize the results as authentic and, at this stage, may
even be able to refine the researcher’s understanding.

Another technique to establish validity is too active depending on their philosophical


perspectives, some qualitative researchers reject the framework of validity that is
commonly accepted in more quantitative research in the social sciences. They reject the
basic realist assumption that there is a reality external to our perception of it.
Consequently, it doesn’t make sense to be concerned with the “truth” or “falsity” of an
observation with respect to an external reality (which is a primary concern of validity).
These qualitative researchers argue for different standards for judging the quality of
research.

Conclusion
To sum up, validity in qualitative research is debating both social and educational
argument. But we can confirm that validity indeed is associated with accuracy and
truthfulness of scientific findings.
Reference
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Common questions

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Credibility in qualitative research replaces traditional metrics by ensuring data and interpretations accurately reflect participants' experiences. Techniques include triangulation for diverse perspectives, mediator impartiality for unbiased data collection, and member checking to validate interpretations with participants. These methods emphasize the depth of understanding over broad generalizability, conforming to the complex and subjective nature of qualitative data .

The concept of validity in qualitative research focuses on the integrity and accuracy of the methods used, ensuring the findings accurately reflect the data. In contrast, quantitative research validity is grounded in empirical conceptions such as universal laws and objectivity. Qualitative validity involves considerations like credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability, as opposed to the traditional quantitative metrics of internal validity, external validity, reliability, and objectivity .

Some qualitative researchers argue against traditional validity standards because these assume a reality external to our perceptions. These researchers reject the realist notion of an objective truth and propose different standards for quality, focusing on how well research methods capture participants' lived realities rather than compliance with objective standards like those in quantitative research .

Cultural and contextual variability necessitate that the chosen methodology is tailored to appropriately capture the nuances of the researched phenomena. The methodology must be sensitive to contextual differences to maintain the validity of its findings, emphasizing cultural relevance and allowing for diverse sampling and analysis techniques suited to the setting .

Bias and expectations management is crucial for maintaining validity in qualitative research. A skilled mediator should check personal biases and establish an environment that promotes candid responses. Disclosure of the mediator's perspectives and employing mediators from outside the research organization are strategies to prevent responses influenced by desired outcomes, ensuring the authenticity of gathered data .

Techniques to enhance validity in qualitative research include using trained mediators to maintain impartiality, employing triangulation to approach research from multiple perspectives, and respondent validation to test initial results with participants. Triangulation may involve different moderators or data analysis approaches and aims to inform results from diverse angles, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the data .

Systematic sampling involves no a priori theory and aims for broad pattern identification. Purposeful sampling targets specific outcomes or characteristics, while theoretical sampling is iterative, shaped by ongoing data collection and theory development. Each method impacts validity by influencing the scope, depth, and applicability of findings, necessitating careful selection aligned with research goals .

Alternative criteria such as truth value (credibility) and transferability (applicability) provide a framework for rigor in qualitative research distinct from quantitative standards. Truth value involves ensuring findings truthfully represent the lived experiences of participants. Transferability allows findings to be extrapolated to other contexts without strict mathematical generalization, accommodating the contextual nature of qualitative inquiries .

Ontology and epistemology can significantly affect perceived validity, as they define the nature of reality and knowledge. For instance, the humanistic view sees the individual as a product of existential consciousness, while the positive psychology perspective includes an inborn existence among other humans. These differences guide how validity is achieved and interpreted, affecting conclusions drawn from qualitative research .

Triangulation enhances validity by approaching the research question from multiple angles, either by using several moderators, different methodologies, or diverse data sets. This process helps in cross-verifying data, reducing bias, and ensuring that the findings are comprehensive and robust. Effective use of triangulation involves careful coordination and integration of findings from these varied approaches to build a well-rounded understanding .

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