Open AccessValidity, reliability, and generalizability in qualitative research
Author(s) -
Lawrence C. Leung
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of family medicine and primary care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2278-7135
pISSN - 2249-4863
DOI - 10.4103/2249-4863.161306
Subject(s) - generalizability theory , medicine , qualitative research , triage , external validity , health care , validity , reliability (semiconductor) , internal validity , nursing , applied psychology , psychiatry , psychometrics , social psychology , psychology , clinical psychology , social science , developmental psychology , power (physics) , physics , pathology , quantum mechanics , sociology , economics , economic growth
In general practice, qualitative research contributes as significantly as quantitative research, in particular regarding psycho-social aspects of patient-care, health services provision, policy setting, and health administrations. In contrast to quantitative research, qualitative research as a whole has been constantly critiqued, if not disparaged, by the lack of consensus for assessing its quality and robustness. This article illustrates with five published studies how qualitative research can impact and reshape the discipline of primary care, spiraling out from clinic-based health screening to community-based disease monitoring, evaluation of out-of-hours triage services to provincial psychiatric care pathways model and finally, national legislation of core measures for children's healthcare insurance. Fundamental concepts of validity, reliability, and generalizability as applicable to qualitative research are then addressed with an update on the current views and controversies.