1. Qualitative Research & Methods employed
Qualitative research is a scientific research which seeks to understand a given research problem or topic from the perspectives of the local population it involves.
The three most common qualitative methods are participant observation, in-depth interviews, and focus groups.
(a)Participant observation is appropriate for collecting data on naturally occurring behaviors in their usual contexts.
(b) In-depth interviews are appropriate for collecting data on individuals’ personal histories, perspectives and experiences, particularly when sensitive topics are being explored.
(c)Focus groups are effective in eliciting data on the cultural norms of a group and in generating broad overviews of issues of concern to the cultural groups or subgroups represented.
These three methods generate data by way of field notes, audio (and sometimes video) recordings, and transcripts.
2. Trustworthiness and Researcher Bias
Trustworthiness is an essential component of qualitative research. Findings should reflect the reality of the experience. Providing participants with the opportunity to review the researchers interpretation of the data (Koch, 1994 ) can identify this trustworthiness or credibility. Another strategy used to maximize the trustworthiness of the findings is to undertake member checks . This involves taking analysis back to the participants to ensure it represents reasonable account of their experience (Parahoo, 1997) thus, minimizing researcher bias In this way biased results can be avoided and a reliable description of a given phenomena provided (Beck, 1994). However, research by Mayes & Pope (1995) & Clarke (1999) argue that reliability is enhanced when more than one skilled qualitative researcher is involved in the analysis process. This is seems a sound suggestion.
3. Confirmability
Patton says that objectivity in research suffers because the intrusion of the researcher’s biases is inevitable (Patton, 1990). The concept of confirmability is the qualitative investigator’s comparable concern to objectivity. Here steps must be taken to help ensure as far as possible that the work’s findings are the result of the experiences and ideas of the informants, rather than the reflections and ideas of the researcher. The method of triangulation can be used to reduce the bias of the investigator and promote confirmability. Miles and Huberman(1994)consider that a key criterion for confirmability is the extent to which the researcher admits his or her own.
4. Coding
An objectivist approach treats code words as “condensed representation of the facts described in the data” (Seidel & Kelle, 1995).It should be ensured that (1.) the codes are adequate surrogates for the text they identify (2.) the text is reducible to the codes and (3.) it is appropriate to analyze relationships among codes. If these conditions are not met then an analysis of relationships among code words is risky business. (Seidel, 1991)
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