The Positivist Approach in Qualitative Research - Essay Example

? Positivism and Qualitative Research Positivism in Qualitative Research Introduction The evaluation of qualitative research, which mostly implies the elements of artistry and craftsmanship, is most important. Generally as the method is based on subjectivism requires the objective, scientific and experimental approaches to bring its effective evaluation. For effective and conductive evaluation of qualitative research, most of the researches propose positivist approach, which applies the positivist validity criteria, based on three different perspectives. These perspectives are validity, reliability and generalizability, which apply to the evaluation of qualitative research. This paper compares and contrasts three different perspectives of positivist approach to evaluate the qualitative research. The paper will elaborate of how the perspectives are different and similar in the evaluation of qualitative research. A comparative analysis of the perspectives will be made in this report. The Positivist Approach in Qualitative Research The researchers in contemporary studies mostly in areas of medical science, psychology or social sciences come up with the proposition of positivist approach. They propose this approach for the evaluation of qualitative research method, which adapts less significant methods of knowledge acquisition. Qualitative research, which is based on the principle of introspection, requires the approach of positivism for bringing its conductive evaluation (Leavy, 2010, p.16). Positivism brings the evaluation on the basis of positivist verification which comes out through detailed experimentation and analytical observation altogether. By applying the scientific approaches such as mathematics and modeling, a positivist has a more valid ground to analyze or assess a qualitative study. A positivist approach primarily focuses on the objective reality of a qualitative research, avoiding all the subjective theism in research evaluation (Keegan, 2009). This increases the impact of evaluation as more rationalized and reasonable hypothesis is derived by positivism in a qualitative study. It is the rationale based on scientific reasons that work out in positivism for evaluating a qualitative study (Keegan, 2009). It is the accuracy of data that is the accuracy of measurements and observations which matters in a positivist approach of evaluation. This is how by applying both reason and science a positivist brings a conductive path for evaluating a qualitative study (Golafshani, 2003). For all such reasons, a positivist validity criterion appears significant for evaluating qualitative research. The criterion is based on three different perspectives – validity, reliability and generalizability. Applying the criterion with the three different perspectives gives a pathway to evaluate qualitative research. Below is the comparison of all these three perspectives of positivist approach (Flick, 2009, p.69). The Three Perspectives of Positivist Validity The validity criteria of positivist approach significantly apply to the process of evaluation. The criteria provide a deliberate route to conduct an evaluation of a qualitative research (Merriam, 1995). The positive approach primarily focuses on the methods of research, which build the ground of an empirical study or qualitative research. If the methods are correct, find enough to identify the objective reality, they can determine of how much effective a qualitative research is. Actually, it is the assessment of the methods of a qualitative study, which is described as evaluation of a positivist (Markula & Silk, 2011). Validity According to the contemporary literature, validity is the initial perspective of positivist validity criteria. Validity is described as authenticity of a research with respect to its measurement and observation approaches. If measurement or observation is right in a qualitative research as if it gives the right answer to the qualitative researcher, then the research is approved with its validity criterion (Ali & Yusof, 2011). Validity signifies measurement of a qualitative research and for that reason if measurement approach is correctly adapted in the research, it can be called as a valid research. It is through validity, the research can be tested on reliability and generalizability, which are further two perspectives of positivist validity (Ali & Yusof, 2011). Reliability The extent to which the observation procedure in a qualitative research gives the same answer describes reliability of a research. A qualitative research’s measurement instrument or approach is reliable if it gives the same answer every time the research is conducted (Swanson & Holton, 2005). The repetitiveness of the same answer describes the reliability of a qualitative research. Reliability contrasts to the validity in such a way that it is the extent of repetition of the same answer and validity is the extent of correction of the correct answer in a qualitative research. It is said during the evaluation procedure that a qualitative study has to be valid before it can be called as reliable (Bishop, 2007). Generalizability The third and the most significant perspective of positivist validity is generalizability. This refers to the broader scope of a qualitative research to get applied or get evaluated. If a qualitative study can be accepted widely or can be applied broadly outside of its context of the study, it is described as a general study (Ali & Yusof, 2011). If the level of the scope of a study is bigger it is a study with higher generalizability. A positivist applies generalizability to evaluate a qualitative research in terms of its application and adaptation. If the level of generalizability is higher of a study, it is a more comprehensive and widely applicable study. The positivists describe that a qualitative research needs to be valid and needs to be reliable before its gets accepted as a widely applicable research. In this way, generalizability is a symbol of comprehensive completion of a study differing from validity and reliability which are attributes to describe the quality of a study. The contemporary researches assert that validity, reliability and generalizability are all quality attributes of a qualitative research. They describe that how much authentic and comprehensive a research is for its application and adaptation (Jones & Torres, 2013). Conclusion A positivist approach is an effective way to assess and evaluate a qualitative research. A positivist uses validity, reliability and generalizability as three essential perspectives in order to effectively assess and evaluate a qualitative research. Validity signifies measurement in a qualitative research that if measurement approach brings the right answer in a qualitative research, the research is valid and authentic to be applied. Reliability refers to the extent the measurement approach of a qualitative study brings the same answer every time it is applied. Similarly, generalizability defines the comprehensiveness of a qualitative research. All these three perspectives of positivist validity come out essential in describing the quality and the validity of a qualitative research. List of References Ali, A. & Yusof, H., 2011. Quality in Qualitative Studies: The Case of Validity, Reliability and Generalizability. Issues in Social and Environmental Accounting, 5(1), pp.25-64. Bishop, R.C., 2007. The Philosophy of the Social Sciences: An Introduction. New York: Bloomsbury Academic. Flick, U., 2009. An Introduction to Qualitative Research. London: SAGE. Golafshani, N., 2003. Understanding Reliability and Validity in Qualitative Research. The Qualitative Report, 8(4), pp.597-607. Jones, S.R. & Torres, V., 2013. Negotiating the Complexities of Qualitative Research in Higher Education: Fundamental Elements and Issues. London: Routledge. Keegan, S., 2009. Qualitative Research: Good Decision Making Through Understanding People, Cultures and Markets. London: Kogan Page Publishers. Leavy, P., 2010. The Practice of Qualitative Research. London: SAGE. Markula, P. & Silk, M., 2011. Qualitative Research for Physical Culture. Palgrave Macmillan. Merriam, S., 1995. What Can Tell You From An N of 1?: Issues of Validity and Reliability in Qualitative Research. Journal of Lifelong Learning, 4, pp.51-60. Swanson, R.A. & Holton, E.F., 2005. Research in Organizations: Foundations and Methods in Inquiry. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Publishers. Read More