Obtaining Data Observation Interviews Document analysis Complete and detailed description of the case is required. Understanding the essence of the experience from the participants perspective Research Problem Focused on what is essential for the meaning of the event, episode, or interaction. In depth, unstructured interviews Lengthy interview Multiple sessions Listening, prompting, encouraging Data Analysis Description of phenomenon Explanation of participants experience Overall meaning of experience is constructed. The use of different methods of gathering data or collecting with different samples, different times, and different places. Observer effects Internal validity is strengthened if enough time is expended to obtain a valid judgment of what is being observed.
Qualitative researchers use translatability and comparability as external validity concepts.