Validity and Trustworthiness in Qualitative Research: A Critical Discussion

Qualitative content analysis, a widely used methodology in nursing science studies, often relies on several terms to demonstrate its trustworthiness. These terms include credibility, dependability, conformability, transferability, and authenticity. However, there is a dearth of literature that specifically explores the trustworthiness of qualitative content analysis in nursing science research.

Qualitative content analysis has become an essential tool for analyzing qualitative data in various fields, including nursing. This methodology allows researchers to systematically analyze large amounts of data to identify patterns, themes, and meanings. Despite its widespread use, there is a need to critically examine the trustworthiness of qualitative content analysis in nursing science research.

One of the key challenges in ensuring the trustworthiness of qualitative content analysis lies in establishing credibility, dependability, conformability, transferability, and authenticity. Credibility refers to the extent to which the data accurately represents the phenomenon under study. Dependability ensures that the data collection process is consistent and reliable. Conformability involves verifying that the findings are consistent with the original data. Transferability enables the results to be generalized to other settings or populations. Authenticity guarantees that the research findings accurately reflect the participants' experiences.

To establish trustworthiness, researchers should employ multiple strategies. These may include using multiple coders, peer debriefing, and triangulation of data sources. Additionally, researchers should provide detailed descriptions of their methodology, including the coding process, to facilitate verification and validation of the findings.

In conclusion, while qualitative content analysis is a valuable methodology in nursing science research, its trustworthiness requires critical examination. By employing various strategies to establish credibility, dependability, conformability, transferability, and authenticity, researchers can ensure that their findings are reliable and generalizable to other settings or populations.

Validity and trustworthiness in qualitative research