HEALTH HOMEWORK 2
Qualitative Methods
Scientific rigor is an essential aspect of qualitative methods. The terminologies used to
refer to rigor sometimes vary although their ideas are comparable. This essay focuses on some
features qualitative research methods.
There are four elements of rigor of qualitative methods. The first element is the
credibility. This is almost the same with the validity of the data, and it is concerned with the truth
of the results. Credibility can be established by allowing other people who did not take part in the
data analysis to contribute to the meaning and interpretation of the data. Additionally, comparing
the results with the raw data significantly influences the credibility (Issel & Wells, 2017). The
second element if rigor is the transferability. It entails the applicability of the results to other
contexts. Well detailed descriptions in the report would enhance the applicability of the data to
other settings. This is because different scholars can evaluate the likelihood of applicability to
other groups.
Dependability is yet another element of rigor and refers to the consistency of the findings.
It can be addressed by giving a sequence of the steps used in data analysis since it would help
others to arrive at the same results hence confirming the conformity of the data with the findings.
Lastly, confirmability shows the results came from the respondents and are not influenced by the
researcher's opinions and biases (Issel & Wells, 2017). Confirmability can be addressed by
leaving an audit which can be followed by others and reach the same results.
Qualitative research comprises the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data that is
irreducible to numbers. These data concern the social life of people as well as their behaviors.
Qualitative research looks at how an element varies in different situations and not how big it is or
even how many elements are there (Sargeant, 2012). Use of numbers in qualitative research has
