The subjective nature of qualitative research necessitates scrupulous scien
tific methods to ensure valid results. Although qualitative methods such as
grounded theory, phenomenology, and ethnography yield rich data, consumers
of research need to be able to trust the findings reported in such studies
. Researchers are responsible for establishing the trustworthiness of quali
tative research through a variety of ways. Specific challenges faced in the
field can seriously threaten the dependability of the data. However, by mi
nimizing potential errors that can occur when doing fieldwork, researchers
can increase the trustworthiness of the study. The purpose of this article
is to present three of the pitfalls that can occur in qualitative research
during data collection and transcription: equipment failure, environmental
hazards, and transcription errors. Specific strategies to minimize the risk
for avoidable errors will be discussed.