Creswell Chapter 10: Standards of Validation and Evaluation

Reflective Reading Log #4

In Creswell’s tenth (and possibly most boring) chapter, he discusses the various standards of validation and evaluation in qualitative research. While he notes the varied and numerous viewpoints on validation and summarizes the key perspectives and terms used by various researchers, he details his own “stance” on validation. He considers “validation” as a “distinct strength of qualitative research in that the account made through extensive time spent in the field, the detailed thick description, and the closeness of the researcher to the participants in the study all add to the value or accuracy of the study” (p. 207). As such, he identifies several validation strategies that will assist researchers to assess the accuracy of their research.

It is essential for the researcher to spend “prolonged” and “persistent” involvement in and observation of the field of study. They must develop trust among their participants and enhance their understanding of the culture. Researchers must engage in triangulation, where multiple sources, methods, and theories (etc) are utilized as evidence to support the outcome. External checks (such as having a peer reviewer) must be in place to “keep the researcher honest [and] ask the hard questions about methods, meanings, and interpretations” (p. 208). The researcher must clarify their biases and assumptions that they have, as they will contribute to the way the researcher has approached and interpreted the study. In order to allow the participants the opportunity to assess the accuracy of the data, interpretations, and conclusions, member checking is an essential part of the process. Rich, thick descriptions must be utilized, as they provide insight into case transferability. Lastly, an external auditor that has no connection to the study should assess whether the connection between “the findings, the interpretations, and the conclusion is supported by the data” (p. 209). Creswell recommends that researchers engage in at least two of these strategies for validation.

Though Creswell acknowledges that it is difficult to break down how measures of validation can be broken down in each of the five methods of study, he defines several questions the researchers should ask and outlines the characteristics he would look for in each of the five types of studies.