Principle | Qualities | Application to this study |
---|---|---|
Sensitivity to context | Theoretical; relevant literature; empirical data; sociocultural setting; participant's perspective; ethical issues | Grounding the study in the context of what is already known from the systematic review. Then gathering the new interview data to refine that knowledge, searching for examples that confirm and refute what is already known. Being aware of and sensitive to the sociocultural place of the participants and how this might influence the meanings they give to their experiences. Also understanding those experiences from their perspective; what they meant to them, but acknowledging the influence of the researcher and their role in the interview to what is said through their demeanour, verbal and non-verbal cues and an awareness of the potentially more powerful position of the researcher. Ethical approval was gained |
Commitment and rigour | In-depth engagement with topic; methodological competence; skill; thorough data collection; depth/breadth of analysis | This is achieved through becoming committed to the process of the research, the integrity of the interviews, being emersed in the data and taking a systematic, rigorous approach to the depth of analysis and interpretation of the interviews. Accounting for the variety and complexity of the data, including the search for disconfirming cases. The trustworthiness of the analysis was further established by respondent validation of the findings. The first eight interviews were coded independently by two researchers |
Transparency and coherence | Clarity and power of description/argument; transparent methods and data presentation; fit between theory and method; reflexivity | Providing a clear audit trail of the process of the study including data analysis. Telling a clear coherent story that encompasses the range of experience of the participants, illustrated by their own words and offering a reflective interpretation of the meaning of their accounts that acknowledges the role and influences of the researcher |
Impact and importance | Theoretical (enriching understanding); sociocultural; practical (for community, policymakers, health workers) | Clearly describing the originality and importance of the findings and how they relate to previous research. Demonstrating their importance for policymakers, in this case the NHSBSP. Offering recommendations to improve services to reduce the psychological impact of false-positive mammograms |
Source: Yardley (2000).