Standards for Qualitative Research

Abstract

One of the greatest obstacles to the identification of excellence in qualitative studies is the lack of generally accepted criteria. The criteria developed for quantitative studies are based on a different set of as sumptions and are not appropriate. Those who critique qualitative stud ies need context flexibility, skills in inductive reasoning, skills in theory analysis, and the capacity to transform ideas across levels of abstrac tion. The following standards are proposed for critique of qualitative studies: (a) descriptive vividness; (b) methodological congruence; (c) an alytic preciseness; (d) theoretical connectedness; and (e) heuristic rele vance. Methodological congruence has four elements: rigor in documen tation ; procedural rigor; ethical rigor; and auditability. Heuristic rele vance has three elements: intuitive recognition; relationship to existing body of knowledge; and applicability. Threats to each of these standards are identified. Creative strategies for improving the published presenta tion of qualitative studies must be developed to allow adequate critique.