DATA VALIDITY CONTROL IN QUALITATIVE PSYC HOLOGICAL-RESEARCH

The authors describe a range of techniques used to control validity in qualitative research. They categorize the existing techniques to thos e pertaining to 1. gathering information on the investigated phenomeno n, and to 2. analysis and interpretation of the collected material. Th e first category is further divided into procedures related to a) the nature of data, b) the role of a researcher, c) the selection of respo ndents, and d) an independent subcategory of triangulation. The second category comprises techniques pertaining to a) the reflexive and dial ogical nature of qualitative research, b) the candor and critical atti tude of a scientist, c) specific procedures for data evaluation and re sult formulation, and d) techniques concerning the integrity, coherenc e and distribution of the data sample. Attention is also paid to the f actors that may endanger validity of qualitative research.