3.10.1. Rigour
Rigour in studies that have phenomenological backings are ensured by the choice of qualitative methodology and maintained via ascertaining the position/role of the researcher during the research process, the structure and clarity of the visual methods, critical open-ended discussion, the open-ended narrative schedule (that enables participants’ reflections) as well as triangulation and continuous reviewing of data (Bitsch, 2005). The rigour of research in a qualitative study confirms its trustworthiness and it enhances research credibility, dependability, confirmability and transferability (Schwandt, Lincoln & Guba, 2007).
It was ensured that the research questions and the research instruments were open to the researcher’s supervisor and peers for the accumulation of suggestions regarding the suitability and precision of data collection and analysis methods. Data was closely and appropriately reviewed and managed up to the result-derivation stage of the research (Pitney & Parker, 2009).
This process was continual in such a way that all themes are thoroughly collated and repeatedly illustrated. It aided a helpful examination of the themes that emerged from the transcripts in such a way that similarities and differences in patterns were duly observed and illustrated. This process contributes to trustworthiness in research. Therefore, to ensure result validity, there was a continuous review of the research instruments (Cohen et al., 2000, p. 95) in order to determine their correlation with the participants’ experiences, which forms a part of research rigour. Russell et al. (2005) explain that multiple checking of coded responses by other researchers also aids adequate testing and interpretation of coded themes and this enhances the validity of research.
50 3.10.2. Triangulation
Greene (2007, p. 13) states that triangulation is essential for qualitative studies. Triangulation helps in the re-examination of research methods (Hong & Espelage, 2012). In addition, triangulation entails the use of diverse methods of data collection in order to achieve research validity, reliability (Taylor, Kermode & Roberts, 2007, p. 54; Halcomb & Andrew, 2005), trustworthiness (Teddlie & Tashakkori, 2009, p. 35) and also transferability. When triangulation is encouraged, responses are diversely viewed which then make them more precise (Moss, Phillips, Erikson, Floden, Lather & Schneider, 2009, p. 501). There are different forms of triangulation (investigator, theory, methodological and data triangulation), the most appropriate for this study is methodological triangulation which aids reliable and valid results (Halcomb &
Andrew, 2005, p. 32).
Methodological triangulation is done via the use of diverse research methods to arrive at results that can be recommended and transferable to different contexts (Taylor et al., 2007, p. 54), which in this study, are the visual illustrations, open-ended discussions and open-ended narratives. As soon as all transcriptions were done, there was an immediate attempt at identifying and gathering the themes that each method contained per participant. There was consistent data reading and comparison of the information given by participants in each of the methods in order to detect any regularity, repetition, or inconsistency; and in the occurrence of such, to determine the reason behind such similarities or contradictions. This gave room for the much-deserved evaluation of the three data collection methods that were utilised in this study.
3.10.3. Credibility
The certainty of the reliability of research findings is known as research credibility (Macnee &
McCabe, 2008). One important factor that enables credibility in research is triangulation.
Triangulation is a process which involves the usage of more than one research instrument in confirming result credibility (Onwuegbuzie & Leech, 2007, p. 239).
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The researcher had the collected data triangulated (Denzin & Lincoln, 2005) via the use of all three research instruments (visual illustrations, open-ended discussions and open-ended narratives) which were used for data collection. The use of triangulation thus helped to prevent or reduce maximal cases of bias and any other form of researcher influence during the data collection period, because according to Phillimore and Goodson (2004), the usage of at least one triangulation technique is encouraged in research as it enhances research credibility; this was the case in this study.
Reliability and validity are also significant in research as they indicate the level of the researcher’s objectivity as well as the trustworthiness of the research (Bell, 2007, p. 42). This thus impacts on the possibility or the extent of the transferability of the research and this explains why proper data analysis and reviewing is necessary. After the transcription of the recorded open-ended discussion, the collected data was read meticulously to maintain accurate gathering and separation of themes per data collection method. This was also done in an attempt to gain the much deserved in-depth understanding of the participants’ responses, which also included the moments of emotional shows, pauses and laughs. For this reason, the research results were shared with the participants in order to correct and avoid any form of misinterpretation, as this was expected to make the participants feel actively involved in the research process.
In addition, the use of written language in the visuals, narratives and the open-ended discussion enhanced thorough data examination (Krefting, 1991), re-examination, comparison of participants’ responses per method (i.e. narrative versus transcription versus visuals), as well as analysis of data, more importantly, encouraged credibility of findings. DePompei and Hotz (2001) explain that the use of both verbal and written language aids the provision of enlightening facts that can be used for analysis. It also enhances research reliability and credibility (Clarke &
Iphofen, 2006a).
Furthermore, in order to achieve research credibility, the research approach used in this study worked well with the research questions and objectives. According to Malhotra (2010, p. 318), the maintenance of the research’s consistency with the research aims when transferred to another context is known as reliability. When research instruments tally with the research aims and
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research is purely objective, results may be said to be valid (Bearden, Netemeyer & Haws, 2011, p. 67). As a result, drawn conclusions and recommendations were derived from the analysed data.
3.10.4. Trustworthiness
Silverman and Marvasti (2008, p. 295) assert that when research has a good theoretical backing, generates realistic, dependable and usable results as well provides means for empirical usage and improvement in policies, that research is trustworthy. Bryman and Bell (2007, p. 42) also assert that reliability and validity are important to any research and they make such research trustworthy based on the extent of objectivity that the researcher displays during data collection.
Likewise, before trustworthiness can be attained in research, its findings should attain an utmost level of transferability in order to determine the extent to which the results can be generalized (Bryman & Bell, 2007, p. 42). Nonetheless, the level of trustworthiness of research is determined by its validity.
In this research, as previously mentioned, data was triangulated via three different approaches which were used to collect data. When data is collected from more than one source, comparing and contrasting is possible and the removal of varying details is easily done. The triangulation of data in this study thus aimed to enhance its trustworthiness. In addition, the data collection instruments in this research were utilised systematically in such a way that they were effective in capturing participants’ responses. This emphasises the importance of the use and benefits of triangulation in research (Patton, 2002, p. 546). Triangulating was done in expectation of the yielding of trustworthy results which can enhance transferability of findings into other contexts.
Also, the use of case study in this study enhanced its chances of generating trustworthy results.
This is in line with Russell, Gregory, Ploeg, DiCenso and Guyatt’s (2005) assertion that when research uses the case study design, has clearly written questions, uses purposive sampling and uses appropriate methods of data analysis, it is trustworthy.
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