title: Qualitative research and the question of rigor.
abstract: In this article, the authors discuss the issue of rigor in relation to qualitative social research. It takes a critical focus on the inadequacy of applying a quantitative concept of rigor to evaluate qualitative research. Informed through the researchers' own experience, suggestions are made for a concept of rigor that meets the needs of qualitative research more adequately. Incorporating a notion of ethics, the authors develop a cluster of terms around which they argue that qualitative research can meaningfully speak about rigor: attentiveness, empathy, carefulness, sensitivity, respect, reflection, conscientiousness, engagement, awareness, and openness.
authors.affiliation: School of Social Inquiry at Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia.
authors.forename: Deirdre
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dodd
mesh_terms: D000739:Anecdotes as Topic; D015982:Bias; D004989:Ethics; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012107:Research Design; D012942:Social Sciences