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SAGE Journal User Guide

Article 1

Tracy, S. J. (2010). Qualitative quality: Eight “big-tent” criteria for excellent qualitative research. Qualitative inquiry, 16(10), 837-851.

1. What is meant by quality in this article?
2. Why are quality criteria controversial?
3. What is meant by “big tent” criteria? 
4. What is meant by “excellent qualitative research”?

Article 2

Owen-Smith, A., Donovan, J., & Coast, J. (September 2014). “Vicious circles”: The Development of morbid obesity. Qualitative Health Research, 24(9), 1212-1220,

1. How do the data analyzed and the approach to analysis affect the credibility of the findings?
2. What are the strengths and weaknesses of “qualitative synthesis analysis”?
3. How do the synthesis findings compare to the findings of the separate studies?
4. Discuss how qualitative synthesis analysis addresses issues of credibility?

Article 3

Morse, J.M (2005). The limits of research. Qualitative Health Research, 15(10), 1291-2.

1. What are the limits of research identified here?
2. What is the nature or genre of this article? How does that affect the credibility of the position taken in the article?
3. What are the implications of this perspective for qualitative inquiry specifically?
4. What is your own position on his issue? Why?

Article 4

Biggs, J.S., Farrell,L., Lawrence, G.,& Johnson, J.K. (April 2014). A practical example of Contribution Analysis to a public health intervention. Evaluation, 20(2), 214-229.

1. What is contribution analysis and how does it differ from attribution analysis?
2. What was the reaction of program practitioners to the participatory nature of the analytical process?
3. What issues does contribution analysis not address well?
4. Discuss the kind of reasoning and interpretation involved in portraying the contribution of an intervention to observed changes.  How does this approach affect a study’s credibility?

Article 5

Yin, R.K. (July 2013). Validity and generalization in future case study evaluations Evaluation, 19(3), 321-332.

1. What is meant by validity in this article?
2. What are the issues surrounding generalizations from case studies?
3. What does the author argue is the connection between the way that initial evaluation questions are posed and the selection of the appropriate evaluation method in an ensuing evaluation? 
4. What is the value of raising awareness about case study evaluation methods more generally?  How would this affect the credibility of qualitative studies?