AN ANALYSIS OF A QUALITATIVE INVESTIGATION - A MATTER OF WHETHER TO BELIEVE - COMMENT

USING PUBLISHED standards, a research investigation was analyzed and u sed to illustrate problems related to understanding and believing the results of some forms of qualitative research. One problem discussed w as the investigator's very obvious presence in the data-collection pro cedures and his choice to operate as a sole source through all of the analyses. Also, several illustrative cases or episodes were presented which we did not find convincing. In addition, many research assumptio ns were either internally and/or externally inconsistent. Finally, the effects of figurative language were apparently not monitored, and its use appeared to mislead the investigator and his investigation. Furth ermore, it has the potential of misleading the audience. This commenta ry is proposed as an initial phase. in dialogue that we hope will lead our research community to a set of ''agreed upon'' standards.