RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.7 Trustworthiness
Concepts such as Reliability and Validity are according to Christiansen et al (2010), concerned with measurement. Reliability is concerned with the extent to which a test or instrument can be repeated and still produce the same results. In terms of validity, Cohen et al. (2011) propose that validity is concerned with the researchers’ instrument measuring what it claims to measure. Stemming from the fact that qualitative research like case studies do not measure but rather aim to describe meanings and personal experiences, terms such as reliability and validity are therefore not applicable for qualitative research. These terms are replaced by the term trustworthiness. According to Guba and Lincoln (1994), trustworthiness involves concepts such as credibility, transferability, dependability and conformability.
Trustworthiness in a qualitative study is attained by ensuring that there is intensive long – term involvement, rich data, respondent validation, intervention and triangulation (Cohen et al., 2011). According to Lincoln and Guba (1985), credibility is concerned with ensuring confidence in the truth of the findings. Techniques that are utilised in establishing the credibility of this study include prolonged engagement, triangulation and member checks (Lincoln & Guba, 1985). Prolonged engagement is described as the researcher spending
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adequate time in the field in order to understand the social setting, the phenomenon of interest as well as developing relationships and rapport with members of a setting. Prolonged engagement was secured in this study as an extensive amount of time was spent understanding, through the review of literature, the phenomenon of this study which is the experiences of Life Sciences teachers of IKS. It was further secured from having taught with the participants for a number of years. This ensured that an understanding of the social setting and that a good rapport with the participants had been established. This good rapport with the participants ensured trust which was further enhanced by ensuring the anonymity of the participants. This led to open and honest discussion on the relevant issues that are concerned with their experiences of IKS. All this facilitated the construction of meaning. Prolonged engagement was also secured by the semi – structured interviews being recorded and transcribed. Repeating the recording several times in order to transcribe enabled important data not to be missed from the interview as it ensured that there was a prolonged engagement (long – term involvement) with the data in order to generate findings which are credible by providing sufficient evidence to back up interpretations.
Credibility was further enhanced in this study by the technique of triangulation which involves the use of multiple data generation methods (questionnaire, interviews and document analysis) in order to produce deeper understanding. In designing these multiple data generation methods, discussion took place with the supervisor of this study and consideration was given to the language used in them. The questionnaire was piloted which ensured it was appropriate for the targeted participants. It ensured trustworthiness by encouraging greater honesty and the privacy of completing it at the participants’ leisure encouraged candid responses.
Lincoln and Guba (1985) describe member checks as being concerned with data being tested with those who have generated it. This technique in securing credibility provides an opportunity for the participants to correct errors and to volunteer additional information.
Member checks were done with the aid of the transcriptions of the semi – structured interviews. The transcriptions were handed back to the participants in order for them to verify their responses (validation). In the case of the participant who did not want their interview recorded, the interview notes that were made during the interview were made available for the participant to check.
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As mentioned before another concept involved in ensuring trustworthiness is transferability which, according to Lincoln and Guba (1985), is concerned with illustrating that the findings have applicability in other contexts. A technique utilised in securing transferability is thick description which is carried out by describing a phenomenon in sufficient detail where once done evaluation can take place in terms of the extent to which the findings are transferable to other contexts. Thick description in this study is that sufficient detail is manifest in the sufficient detail that is given with justification in terms of the literature reviewed, the conceptual framework adopted, the use of a case study, sampling, and the data generation and analysis methods. The exploration of the study in terms of supplying of a thick description does not only enhance trustworthiness with reference to transferability but also aids in the credibility of the study as thorough explanation enables the reader to have confidence in the findings.
Lincoln and Guba (1985) state that dependability refers to showing that findings are consistent and could be repeated. The detailed explanation with regard to the provision of a thick description as mentioned in the above paragraph will not only serve to secure trustworthiness with reference to transferability and credibility but also in terms of the dependability of the findings. Another technique that is used to enhance dependability of a study is that of external audits which is when a researcher not involved in the research process examines both the process and findings of a particular study in order to determine the accuracy of findings with regard to them being supported by the data generated. Such audits took place in the form of regular meetings with the supervisor of this study, who could be viewed as being not directly involved in the study. Where there was the engagement of the processes involved in the study. This engagement included the challenging of the processes and findings of the study which ultimately fostered accuracy of the study.
Conformability is concerned with the degree of neutrality to which the findings of the study are generated by the participants and not by researcher bias. External audits as described in the previous paragraph strengthened conformability as the supervisor of this study evaluated the processes and findings of the study for researcher bias. To further strengthen conformability, the technique of an audit trail was utilised. This involves a transparent description of the research steps of the study from the start to the reporting of the findings.
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This is evident firstly, once again with reference to supplying a thick description and secondly, the explanation to the participants of the researcher role before data was generated.
The issue of the questionnaire being designed to be self administered also eliminated researcher bias. When participants responded to it, it afforded them the opportunity to respond with no input which could have influenced them as researcher interests or motivation may have come to the fore during discussion regarding issues in the questionnaire.