WG 2: Quality Criteria of Qualitative Research

1
WG 2 Quality Criteria of Qualitative Research

• Veronique Mottier (Coordinator),
• University of Lausanne Jesus College,
  Cambridge UK
• Christoph Maeder,
• University of Teacher Education Thurgau
  University of St. Gallen
• Eva Nadai,
• University of Applied Science Northwestern
  Switzerland
• Vinzenz Wyss,
• University of Applied Science Zürich

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Guidelines for sound qualitative
research(Mottier, Maeder, Nadai Wyss 2006)

• Sound qualitative research is theoretical
  concerning research questions and topics.
• Sound qualitative research is based on previous
  research and refers to state-of-the-art
  theoretical, methodological and topic-related
  literature. In this sense it stands on the
  shoulder of giants.
• Sound qualitative research is clearly linked to a
  social scientific theory like Symbolic
  Interactionism, Ethnomethodology, Cultural
  Representation Theory, Hermeneutics,
  Phenomenology, Discourse Theory or the like.
• Sound qualitative research uses only data
  appropriate within the framework of the
  particular theory and applies corresponding
  methods for analysis and interpretation.
• Sound qualitative research is rich in data and
  clarifies its methods of data collection and
  analysis to the point of enabling intersubjective
  agreement.

3
Some general guidelines for sound qualitative
research

• Depending on the particular theory and methods
  used qualitative research presents an emic as
  well as an etic perspective. Including the
  subjective or native point of view does not
  discharge the researcher from the task of
  developing and defending his/her own
  interpretation, which may, or may not correspond
  to that of the research subjects.
• Sound qualitative research positions itself first
  and foremost within a social science framework.
  In so doing, it inevitably creates a distance
  between the researcher and his/her research
  subjects. For, their everyday concepts constitute
  the object of the research, but must not be
  adopted uncritically as analytical tools of the
  research. Therefore, complete congruence between
  the perspectives of the researcher and the
  research subjects cannot be an indicator of the
  quality of the analysis.

4
Some general guidelines for sound qualitative
research

• Sound qualitative research is neither partisan
  nor indifferent toward social problems, but it
  aims at differentiating scientific analysis from
  personal and political stance on a given topic.
  Qualitative research reveals the complexity of
  the social world instead of lending itself to
  simplifications.
• Sound qualitative research is contextualised and
  the relevant information considering the concrete
  context is provided (without jeopardising the
  anonymity of informants, organisations etc.).
  Generalisations of results beyond this context
  must be discussed.