Checklist: Using Data Beyond Talk

Research question

Can the method and its application address the essential aspects of the research question?

Form of data collection

Has the method been applied according to the methodological rules and goals?

Has jumping between the forms of data collection been avoided except when it is grounded in the research question and/or theoretically?

The researchers

Are the researchers able to apply the method?

What parts do their own fears and uncertainties play in the situation?

The participants

Is the form of data collection appropriate to the target group?

How can the fears, uncertainties and expectations of (potential) participants in the study be taken into account?

Field

Is the form of data collection appropriate to the field under study?

How are its accessibility and feasibility and ethical problems taken into account?

Scope for the members

How are the perspectives of the persons that are studied and their variability taken into account?

Do the members’ perspectives have a chance of asserting themselves against the methodological framework of the study (e.g., are the observational sheets flexible enough for the unexpected)?

Course of the data collection

Have the researchers realized the form of data collection?

Have they left enough scope to the members?

Has the researcher managed his or her roles? (Why not?)

Were the participants’ role, the researcher’s role and the situation sufficiently clearly defined for the participants?

Could they fulfil their roles? (Why not?)

Analyse any inconsistencies in order to validate the data collection between the first and second field contact, if possible.

Aim of the interpretation

What are the clearly defined actions, multifold patterns, contexts, and so on?

Claim for generalization

What is the level on which statements should be made:

For the single case (the participants and their actions, an institution and the relations in it, etc.)?

Referring to groups (findings about a profession, a type of institution, etc.)?

General statements?

An Introduction to Qualitative Research

Student Resources

Checklist: Using Data Beyond Talk