The call to experts in qualitative research.
There are many researchers engaged in qualitative research who look to experts in this mode of inquiry to validate their findings. But can any outsider, even an "expert" in qualitative research, do this? Such an expert is unlikely to know the data as well or to be as fully immersed in the project as the researcher. There are different kinds of expertise that may be required for different phases and purposes of research, and to satisfy different epistemological and ethical concerns. Moreover, new modes of participatory research have complicated the role of expert and the idea of expertise. Researchers must be judicious in their claims to expert validation, and experts must move researchers away from a preoccupation with validation toward craftsmanship and accountability to diverse communities.
Sandelowski
M
M
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Nursing, Department of Women's and Children's Health, 27599, USA.
D006801:Humans; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research / Q000592:standards*; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D011361:Professional Competence; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012108:Research Personnel / Q000592:standards*