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edibility may also be demonstrated by
prolonged engagement, observation and audit trails.
Dependability (auditability) is an integral component of
rigour and involves the researcher giving the reader
sufficient information to determine how dependable the
study and the researcher are. A study may be deemed
auditable when another researcher can clearly follow the
trail used by the investigator and potentially arrive at the
same or comparable conclusions. A research study may
be shown to be dependable by producing evidence of a
decision trail at each stage of the research process. According
to Koch (2006), this provides the reader with evidence of
the decisions and choices made regarding theoretical and
methodological issues throughout the study and entails
discussing explicitly the reasons for such decisions. It is also
necessary for each stage of the research to be traceable and
clearly documented.
Transferability (fittingness) refers to whether or not findings
can be applied outside the context of the study situation.
When critiquing qualitative research, a study can be
deemed to have met the criterion of transferability when
the findings can ‘fit’ into other contexts and readers can
apply the findings to their own experiences. Transferability
is also enhanced when the results are meaningful to
individuals not involved in the research study.
Confirmability requires the researcher to demonstrate how
conclusions and interpretations have been reached. It is
concerned with establishing that findings are clearly derived
from the data (Tobin and Begley, 2004). Confirmability is
usually established when credibility, transferability and
dependability are achieved.
Goodness is another criterion against which the
trustworthiness and authenticity of qualitative research
can be measured. When critiquing the rigour of qualitative
studies the issue of goodness may be seen as an integral
component of the research process and an indicator of the
robustness of the study. Tobin and Begley (2004) suggest
that goodness is an overarching principle of qualitative
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British Journal of Nursing, 2007, Vol 16, No 12 743
RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES
inquiry and must be reflected in the entire study. Goodness
needs to be evident in the philosophical background and
study design, providing explicit explanations regarding
the study context, data collection and management and
the interpretation and presentation process. Goodness,
therefore, is a principle that should be present during
all stages of the research study and explicit in the final
written report.
Findings and discussion
As stated above, findings from qualitative studies can be
represented as a narrative (story), themes, description of
the phenomenon under study or an interpretive account
of the understanding or meaning of an experience.
Regardless of how the final outcome is presented, the
researcher should discuss the findings in the context of
what is already known.
For many this will involve further literature review related
to the final outcome. However, the reviewer should beware
of exaggerated claims as to the significance of the research
and implications for practice, and further research should
be located in the study’s findings. Moreover, the researcher
should relate the findings of the stud