Qualitative research is a method to get insights into the research problem and collect subjective data to closely examine the issue. In this research, human experience is unavoidable. The targeted audience is asked to answer the designed questions, and then it is analysed to obtain results. The results are only accurate when the collected data is good enough to trust. The accuracy and presentation of data have primary significance in qualitative research. So, developing a degree of trust with the targeted audience matters a lot. In this way, you can better ensure the accuracy of data and build confidence in evaluated results. Lincoln and Guba developed and refined this concept of trustworthiness in qualitative research.
As per the framework of Lincoln and Guba, you can work for trustworthiness, and several components of its framework can help you come up with a reliable study of qualitative research. In qualitative research, the approach of trustworthiness is used very frequently. As per its importance, this article aims to discuss trustworthiness in qualitative research in detail.
What is Trustworthiness in Qualitative Research Lincoln and Guba?
Trustworthiness is an approach that aims to convince the researcher and readers of the obtained results. As a writer, you have to use this approach and grasp the attention of readers, which can help you let them believe in your research work. Without trustworthiness in qualitative research, it is challenging to prove if research work is reliable. Also, if you are interested in publishing your work, you must deal with peer review. In this regard, trustworthiness helps you a lot and removes the hurdle in the best way. However, it is better to get PhD dissertation help to get it done better way.
What Are The Components Of Lincoln And Guba Evaluation Criteria For Qualitative Research?
There are four components of Lincoln and Guba’s evaluation criteria for qualitative research. These four components are mentioned below, with detailed descriptions:
Credibility
Credibility is the first component from the framework of Lincoln and Guba to check trustworthiness in qualitative research. In this component, the confidence of the researcher is evaluated in regard to research findings. One of the best ways to find if the research is reliable in order to use the node of triangulation. The triangulation can be for a researcher as well as for data collection. You can go one way, or you can check credibility from both triangulation methods. Other than triangulation, you can find prolonged engagement the best fit for evaluation.
One thing must be clear to you that credibility is something that shows the use of responses obtained from several resources. For example, you have collected data from a targeted audience. In this case, the collection of accurate data is not everything, but its presentation also matters a lot. The collected data is only beneficial when you are good at finding its best use. In qualitative research, subjective data is a bit tricky to handle, and its presentation becomes challenging. So, you have to check repeatedly if the message of the respondent is delivered in the right way.
Dependability
For trustworthiness in qualitative research, Lincoln and Guba’s framework suggests another component in the form of dependability. The novel researcher may not be able to examine the dependability of your research, but a senior and experienced researcher can do this very well. So, it is important to achieve dependability in your work. The approach to ensure this component requires developing a clear, logical and easy-to-understand research.
When you successfully develop these elements, it becomes easy to accomplish the second component of the framework. The purpose of having dependability is to make your research repeatable. It is very common to observe that many researchers work on a research gap that is the limitation of last research on the same problem. The use of the last research is only possible when it has dependability. So, as a responsible researcher, you have to take great care of it.
Transferability
In qualitative research, researchers need to focus on its current and future use. The use of research is only possible when there is some similar problem to discuss. Furthermore, when another researcher has to work on similar audience, he can find the research transferable. In simple words, the application of research makes it transferable. Lincoln and Guba added this component to the framework of trustworthiness in qualitative research for a case-to-case transfer. To make your research trustworthy, you are supposed to site every content taken from internal or external sources. The proper citation helps the reader to track and assess the original content.
Confirmability
Lincoln and Guba introduced the component of confirmability to check neutrality. A credible researcher is supposed to remain unbiased in his research work. No reader wants to waste his time reading a biased study. Confirmability is basically inclined towards the results and conclusion of a research study. That is why it is supposed to be addressed in the last when you are done with the rest of the components of framework developed by Lincoln and Guba for ensuring trustworthiness in qualitative research.
So, the basic purpose of confirmability is to establish a clear path to show the derivation of conclusions and research results after analysing the data. The confirmability of research shows the data collected from the targeted audience is derived in a perfect way. The techniques and methods applied to data are accurate, which work well to make beneficial interpretations regarding the research problem. Furthermore, the theories and principles applied in research are good enough and most relevant to the study. All of these aspects play a significant role in developing trustworthiness in qualitative research. Still, you have the option to hire a UK dissertation writing service to bring trustworthiness in a professional way.
Final Thoughts
Most of the researchers use Lincoln and Guba’s framework for ensuing trustworthiness in qualitative research. The reason for its frequent use is the effectiveness and the simplicity of framework. The critical evaluation of its components gives you the best results and makes it easy to evaluate if research is valuable as per the academic demands.
