Understanding the ValidityofQualitative Research :1/26/2009 IIUM 1 J. A. Maxwell Understanding the ValidityofQualitative Research


The presentation :1/26/2009 IIUM ACC8025 2 Section One: Definition Section Two: The Issue Section Three: Types of Validation Section Four: Conclusion The presentation


Section One: Definition :1/26/2009 IIUM ACC8025 3 Qualitative research Qualitative researchers are guided by highly abstract principles which integrate their beliefs about Ontology Epistemology Methodology (Denzin & Lincoln, 1994, p 13). Section One: Definition


Knowledge is a justified true belief :1/26/2009 IIUM ACC8025 4 That to know something one must believe it (Belief) That the belief must be true (Truth) That one’s reason for believing it must be satisfactory in the light of some criterion – for one could not be said to know something if one’s reason for believing it were subjective or disorganized (Justifications) http://courses.dce.harvard.edu/~phils4/jtb.html Knowledge is a justified true belief


Qualitative research :Qualitative research Qualitative research differs from quantitative research in that the latter is characterized by the use of large samples, standardized measures, a inductive approach, and highly structured interview instruments to collect data for hypothesis testing (Marlow, 1993). 1/26/2009 IIUM ACC8025 5


QUALITATIVE RESEARCH :QUALITATIVE RESEARCH The greater problem for first-time qualitative researchers is not how to get data but how to figure out what to do with the data they get. (Harry Wolcott) 1/26/2009 IIUM ACC8025 6


Continue :1/26/2009 IIUM ACC8025 7 Qualitative Research is a process we can use to deepen our understanding of complex social and human factors in ways that cannot be understood with numbers Continue


Do you remember…All research is interpretive :1/26/2009 IIUM ACC8025 8 Guided by a set of beliefs and feelings about the world and how it should be understood and studied (Denzin & Lincoln, 1994, p 13). Do you remember…All research is interpretive


Validity :1/26/2009 IIUM ACC8025 9 "An account is valid or true if it represents accurately those features of the phenomena, that it is intended to describe, explain or theories." The best available estimate to the truth of a given proposition, assumption, or conclusion. Validity


Section twoISSUES IN QUALITATIVE RESEARCH :1/26/2009 IIUM ACC8025 10 Among the most cited criticisms of qualitative research are the presumed lack of reliability and validity of its findings. critics question the ability of qualitative research to replicate observations (reliability) to obtain correct answers or correct impressions of the phenomenon under study (validity) (Kirk & Miller, 1986). Section twoISSUES IN QUALITATIVE RESEARCH


inductive :inductive 1/26/2009 IIUM ACC8025 11


Quantitative researchers say :1/26/2009 IIUM ACC8025 12 The lack of stander means of assuring validity such as quantitative measurement, explicit control, for different validity threats, and the formal testing of prior hypothesis. Quantitative researchers say


Qualitative researcher Argue :1/26/2009 IIUM ACC8025 13 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). Different standards for judging the quality of research. Reject the basic realist assumption that their is a reality external to our perception of it. Qualitative researcher Argue


The problems with FACTS (DATA) :The problems with FACTS (DATA) the ‘facts’ are not ‘given’ – they do not ‘speak for themselves’; rather data is always interpreted and organized through our scientific activities 1/26/2009 IIUM ACC8025 14


Continue the argument :1/26/2009 IIUM ACC8025 15 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 Continue the argument


Guba and Lincoln proposed four criteria for judging the soundness of qualitative research :1/26/2009 IIUM ACC8025 16 Guba and Lincoln proposed four criteria for judging the soundness of qualitative research


Maxwell’s analysis :1/26/2009 IIUM ACC8025 17 Employs the critical realism, which assumes that we have no direct knowledge of the objects of our accounts and Thus no independent entity to which to compare these account. Slide 10 Maxwell’s analysis


the approach :the approach Validity to the accounts not to the data or methods The issue is the assumptions drawn from them Data can not be valid or invalid. 1/26/2009 IIUM ACC8025 18


Incommensurability :Incommensurability having no common basis, measure, or standard of comparison Not to compare Not to Assess account 1/26/2009 IIUM ACC8025 19


Section Three: Validity types :1/26/2009 IIUM ACC8025 20 Descriptive Validity Interpretive Validity Theoretical Validity Generalizaliblity Evaluation Section Three: Validity types


Maxwell stated :Maxwell stated Explicate the Implicit theory in use. Clarify how qualitative researchers think about validity Distinctions may seem unoriginal. Not to justify 1/26/2009 IIUM ACC8025 21


Descriptive Validity :1/26/2009 IIUM ACC8025 22 The factual accuracy of the account as reported by the qualitative researcher. Reportage Refer to specific event and situation Not to generalize They could be attain with intersubjecitve agreement Descriptive Validity


Descriptive Validity :Descriptive Validity The term of description No account can include everything with accuracy. The repeated of the incident (quasi-statistic) 1/26/2009 IIUM ACC8025 23


Interpretive Validity :1/26/2009 IIUM ACC8025 24 The degree to which the participants' viewpoints, thoughts, intentions, and experiences are accurately understood and reported by the qualitative researcher. Interpretive Validity


Interpretive Validity :Interpretive Validity "emic" account is a description of behavior or a belief in terms meaningful to the actor; that is, an emic account is culture-specific. "etic" account is a description of a behavior or belief by an observer, in terms that can be applied to other cultures; that is, an etic account is '"culturally neutral". 1/26/2009 IIUM ACC8025 25


Theoretical Validity :1/26/2009 IIUM ACC8025 26 The degree to which a theory or theoretical explanation developed from a research study fits the data and is, therefore, credible and defensible Theoretical Validity


Generalizability External Validity :1/26/2009 IIUM ACC8025 27 External validity is important when the researcher wants to generalize from a set of research findings to other people, settings, and times. Typically, generalizability is not the major purpose of qualitative research. Provides a More a persuasive argument Generalizability External Validity


Evaluative validity :Evaluative validity The degree to which a researcher is justified in concluding that an observed relationship is causal. More often, qualitative researchers are concerned with studying and understanding a process rather than identifying possible cause and effect relationships 1/26/2009 IIUM ACC8025 28


Implication :Implication Realist prospective Validity much less direct in qualitative research than quantitative research Inductive research Not to eliminate the validity threat Wants to clarify 1/26/2009 IIUM ACC8025 29


Section Four: Conclusion :1/26/2009 IIUM ACC8025 30 I do not have any conclusion Section Four: Conclusion


Referances :Referances Denzin, N. K., & Lincoln, Y. S. (Eds.). (1994). Handbook of qualitative research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Guba, E. G., & Lincoln, Y. S. (1994). Competing paradigms in qualitative research. In N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.), Handbook of qualitative research (pp. 105-117). London: Sage. Harry Wolcott. (1994). Transforming Qualitative Data: Description, Analysis, & Interpretation Kirk, J., & Miller, M. (1986). Reliability and validity in qualitative research. London: Sage Publications. Pedagogisk Forskning i Sverige, Vol 6, No 4, pp 241-269. Stockholm. ISSN 1401-6788 http://www.ped.gu.se/pedfo/v6/n4sum.html 1/26/2009 SRM Institute of Science & Tech 31