Raising the Quality in Qualitative Research

Abstract

Qualitative research is an approach which focuses on researching social facts in their context by aiming theory formation. People’s lives, their experiences, behaviours, emotions, feelings as well as social functioning, social movements, cultural events, and international relations may be the subject matter of qualitative research. It is clear that such research has been increasing recently in social sciences. In parallel to this increase, the problem of conducting high quality research has emerged. This research aims at such concepts as reliability and validity- which are employed in qualitative research- as well as other alternate concepts, and a theoretical examination of the strategies for performing high quality research. It is stressed in this paper that researchers’ use of such strategies as iterative questioning, choosing random samples, detailed quotations, concentrating on ties, analysis forms, determining the limits of the research, self-evaluation (reflection, being affected by the action), discovering the conflicting cases, searching for negative cases and alternative explanation, triangulation, peer debriefing, thick description, audit trail, longitudinal research design and member checking (getting feedback, communicative validation) are likely to raise the quality of research.