Page 33 - ART FORM AND MENTAL HEALTH - Ingrid Pénzes

Criteria of quality
Member checking, peer debriefing, memo and diagram creation, constant comparison, theoretical sampling and repeated analysis techniques were used during the course of research to satisfy the criteria of trustworthiness (Creswell, 1998; Creswell & Miller, 2000; Denzin & Lincoln, 2005; Glaser & Strauss, 1967; Lincoln & Guba, 1985). These criteria include credibility (similar to internal validity in quantitative research), transferability (similar to external validity), dependability (similar to reliability) and confirmability (similar to objectivity).
Member checking was performed on three occasions to satisfy the criteria of credibility (i.e., the ability of informants to recognize their experiences in the results).
First, all interviewed art therapists were given the opportunity to add or correct the transcriptions. All art therapists agreed with the transcriptions. Second, findings after axial coding (a first-draft report) were sent for commentary to all art therapists, and comments were integrated into data analysis. Finally, the detailed theoretical framework was sent to the two art therapists that were re-interviewed again at the end of this study after selective coding. Their comments were incorporated into the development of the final theoretical framework.
Peer debriefing and writing memos and diagrams were performed to satisfy the criteria of credibility, dependability (i.e., the findings can be repeated) and confirmability (i.e., the findings are grounded in data and not biased by the investigator’s motivation or interest). A senior lecturer in art therapy conducted peer debriefing during the entire analysis process.
Memo writing (Corbin & Strauss, 2008) started early in the research process, and continued throughout the entire process. Memos documented the most important considerations and decisions of theory development, the analysis in general and the examination of the role of the investigator.
Diagram creation began during early axial coding to visualize relationships between categories. Memo writing and diagram creation enhanced the constant comparison and directed theoretical sampling. These methods satisfy the criteria of transferability (i.e., the extent to which the data are applicable in other contexts).
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