Rigour in qualitative research: mechanisms for control
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Rigour in qualitative research: mechanisms for control

Kimberley Ryan-Nicholls Associate professor, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada, Department of Psychiatric Nursing, School of Health Studies, Brandon University, Brandon, Canada
Constance Will Associate professor, Department of Nursing, School of Health Studies, Brandon University, Brandon, Canada

Qualitative researchers have been criticised for a perceived failure to demonstrate methodological rigour. Kimberley D Ryan-Nicholls and Constance I Will offer cautionary recommendations related to the mechanisms for control of methodological rigour in qualitative inquiry

Qualitative research methods are accepted as congruent with and relevant to the perspective and goals of nursing. There exists, however, continued criticism of the methodological rigour of qualitative work (Sandelowski 1986, 2004, Farmer et al 2006, Morse 2006a, 2006b). This now informs how qualitative work is considered with the current emphasis on evidence-based practice (Grypdonck 2006, Morse 2006a, 2006b, Sandelowski et al 2006). What is the basis of this criticism? How can methodological rigour be demonstrated? Furthermore, what is rigour and what are the key issues for qualitative researchers? This paper attempts to answer these questions.

Nurse Researcher. 16, 3, 70-85. doi: 10.7748/nr2009.04.16.3.70.c6947

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