ENSURING RIGOUR IN QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

The issues of reliability and validity in qualitative research are not as readily codified as has been the case for quantitative research, H owever, a variety of methods do exist and are reviewed here, This gene ral review is followed by a detailed illustration of selected techniqu es, including the use of counting in qualitative research, the develop ment of systematic coding schemes with the aid of computer programmes, searching for deviant cases and the use of the transcription techniqu es of conversation analysis, The examples given are drawn from a varie ty of studies conducted by the authors.