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In their qualitative study on nurses' confusion and uncertainty with cardiac monitoring, Nickasch, Marnocha, Grebe, Scheelk, and Kuehl (2016) addressed trustworthiness in a number of ways. Trustworthiness or truth value of qualitative research and transparency of the conduct of the study are crucial to the usefulness and integrity of the findings (Cope, 2014). In this column, I will discuss the components of trustworthiness in qualitative research.
What Is Trustworthiness?
Trustworthiness or rigor of a study refers to the degree of confidence in data, interpretation, and methods used to ensure the quality of a study (Pilot & Beck, 2014). In each study, researchers should establish the protocols and procedures necessary for a study to be considered worthy of consideration by readers (Amankwaa, 2016). Although most experts agree trustworthiness is necessary, debates have been waged in the literature as to what constitutes trustworthiness (Leung, 2015).
Criteria outlined by Lincoln and Guba (1985) are accepted by many qualitative researchers and will be the focus of this column. These criteria include credibility, dependability, confirmability, and transferability; they later added authenticity (Guba & Lincoln, 1994). Each of these criteria and the typically used procedures will be outlined. Not all procedures are used in each study.
Credibility
Credibility of the study, or the confidence in the truth of the study and therefore the findings, is the most important criterion (Polit & Beck, 2014). This concept is analogous to internal validity in quantitative research. The question a reader might ask is, "Was the study conducted using standard procedures typically used in the indicated qualitative approach, or was an adequate justification provided for variations?" Thus a grounded theory study should be conducted similar to other grounded theory studies. Techniques used to establish credibility include prolonged...