Qualitative research design and rigour

Abstract

Careful design and rigour are crucial to the dependability of any research. Research that is poorly conceived results in research that is poorly executed and in findings that do not stand up to scrutiny. Thoughtful planning of research and the use of procedures to ensure that research is rigorous should therefore be central concerns for qualitative researchers. The research questions we ask, the cases and participants we involve in our studies, and the ways we ensure the rigour of our work all need to be considered in any dependable research.