Qualitative Credibility

nature of the research approach calls for a means of data collection and analysis of findings

Qualitative research is subjective data and is often used in the social sciences (Sarantakos 2013, p. 48). Qualitative research is devoted to gathering facts, this can be completed through personal experiences, behaviours, and observations (Sarantakos 2013, p. 46). The purpose of qualitative research is to gather an in depth understanding of human behaviour and the explanations for the behaviour (Martijn & Sharpe 2006, p. 1). An issue with only using a qualitative method is efficacy, qualitative studies cannot address relationships between variables with the degree of accuracy that is required to establish social trends (Sarantakos 2013, p. 46).

The method of data analysis is clear, with deep explanation of colazzis approach. However, there are 3 points that making the

Qualitative research key characteristics are the researcher immerse her/himself in the setting, contexts of inquiry are not contrived they are natural, want the subjects to speak for themselves, attend to the experience as a what not as separate variables, these is no one general method, the process entail appraisal about what was studied and it implies a direct concern with expertise as it is lived or felt or undergone (Hughes, 2006)

The methodology was described with the data collection method. Quantitative and qualitative questionnaire which consisted of closed questions with a choice of fixed answers and free text to enhance qualitative data were sent out in the form of mailshot, followed by telephone call to non-respondents and it was repeated for more wider sample results to gain more evidence to reduce bias (Parahoo, 2006).

Since there are differences in nature and assumptions of the data and questions to be answered in qualitative research, the problems may be found in qualitative research such as sampling issues, researcher-subject relationship in qualitative research, methodology, data, reliability and ethical issue (Carr 1994; George, Kruger & Tennant 2012; Malterud, K 2001).

The methodology selected provides the researcher the framework to present information in a logical manner. The methodology section answers two fundamental questions: How data was collected or created and, how the data was examined and determined (Research, n.d.)?

Consequently, qualitative research approach emerges from the philosophical belief that truth is socially constructed and subjective to individual experiences associated with critical theory, constructivism, interpretatism, and naturalistic paradigms (Feilzer, 2010; Ponterotto, 2010; Ryan, Coughlan, & Cronin, 2007; Scotland, 2012; Venkatesh, Brown, & Bala, 2013; Vishnevsky & Beanlands, 2004). Paradigms are the philosophical underpinning that guides qualitative research methodology as result evaluating scientific merit slightly differs from the quantitative methodology. As a result, the scientific merit of qualitative lies in the credibility (trustworthiness), dependability (consistency), transferability (applicability), and comfirmability (verification/neutrality) of the data to answer the research question (Ellis & Levy, 2009; Horsburgh, 2002; Ponterotto, 2010; Ryan, Coughlan, & Cronin, 2007; Vishnevsky & Beanlands, 2004).

In order to do this, a researcher must work on establishing trust among the participants being studied, while also not endangering the relationship by being overly demanding to the privileges given, such as by gatekeepers (Shenton, 2004). Therefore, the researcher should accept that limitations exist within research that cannot be controlled, and should not be taken advantage of (Freeman et al., 2007). Most importantly, qualitative research is not about predicting or generalizing results to others in society, rather gaining an understanding of human beings in various contexts (Freeman et al., 2007). In order to make the study credible, trustworthy, and valid the researcher must acknowledge shortfalls, such as recognize biases both from the researcher and participants, which perhaps affected the outcome of the research (Freeman et al., 2007). In order to prevent biases, it is best for the researcher to conduct a random sampling to ensure unknown influences (Shenton,

There are various research methodologies in qualitative research. However researches sometimes do not find one particular methodology to fit the all types of research. When researches face this kind of challenging situation, they tend to accept ‘generic qualitative approach’.

In the conventional view, qualitative methods produce information only on the particular cases studied, and any more general conclusions are only propositions (informed assertions). Quantitative methods can then be used to seek empirical support for such research hypotheses.

The qualitative research for the study will be driven by using tools such as excel spreadsheets and data analysis software that provides a quality control and accuracy for the results obtained from the participants. The researcher will be utilizing two elements of data analysis validity according to Creswell described by Sampson, J (2012), congruence and accuracy:

Qualitative research is the technique that is used as a part of exploratory research and to derive the independent variables. There are different methods through which we can conduct the qualitative research. As a part of this study we have adopted the following methods:

qualitative methods. According to Saunders et al (2007), qualitative research method is time consuming, because it collects the data through interviewing and observation. Tashakkori and Creswell (2007) argued that conducting the research is useful within positivist paradigm if the investigation is required from in depth observation within the inductive reasoning and phenomenological paradigm framework. However, as the investigation can be possible through in depth observation, the participants may not be large due to the time and resource constraint. In this regard, Tewksbury (2009) suggests to collect the data with the use quantitative research method which can include a large participants and generalize the results subsequently.

4. Employ a range of quantitative and qualitative methodologies to collect data for primary research.