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Quality of qualitative research in the health sciences: Analysis of the common criteria present in 58 assessment guidelines by expert users
Journal
Social Science and Medicine
Type
journal article
Date Issued
2016-01
Author(s)
Abstract
The number of qualitative research methods has grown substantially over the last thirty years, both in social sciences and, more recently, in health sciences. This growth came with questions on the quality criteria needed to evaluate this work, and numerous guidelines were published. These guidelines, however, include many discrepancies, both in terms of vocabulary and structure. Many expert evaluators also decry the absence of consensual and reliable evaluation tools. To address this gap, we present the results of an evaluation of 58 existing guidelines in four major health science fields (medicine and epidemiology; nursing and health education; social sciences and public health; psychology/psychiatry, research methods and organization) by expert (n = 16) and peer (n = 40) users (e.g., article reviewers, experts allocating funds, editors). This research was conducted between 2011 and 2014 at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland. Experts met during three workshops spread over this period. A series of 12 consensual essential criteria, along with definitions, stemmed from a question in a semi-qualitative evaluation questionnaire that we developed. Although there is consensus on the name of the criteria, we highlight limitations on the ability to compare specific definitions of criteria across health science fields. We conclude that each criterion must be explained to come to broader consensus and identify definitions that are easily operational and consensual to all fields examined.
Language
English
Keywords
Qualitative research assessment
Quality criteria
Qualitative research guidelines
Health sciences
Switzerland
Quality criteria
Qualitative research guidelines
Health sciences
Switzerland
HSG Classification
contribution to scientific community
Refereed
Yes
Volume
148
Start page
142
End page
151
Subject(s)
Division(s)
Eprints ID
262087