scientific rigor and research

• Research proposal


  Plan of a research, step-by-step explanation of how a researcher will conduct a research
• Research proposal


  • Commonly written for: Ethical approval, Scientific evaluation, Scholarships, Grants
• Goals of a research proposal

  To explain a research problem, To justify the need to study the research problem, Suggest a method to conduct the research
• Components of a research proposal


  • Introduction, Background and significance, Literature review, Research design and methods, Expected results, Potential implications
• Scientific rigor


  • Process by which we ensure that a research is conducted with sufficient rigor so that the results are accurate and credible
  • It represents the means that we take to ensure the high quality of a study and to solve and prevent potential methodological issues
• Qualitative studies aim to


  • Account for subjectivity, participants' perspectives and context
  • Scientific rigor aims to ensure the quality of the research process while respecting the objectives of qualitative research
• Credibility


  • Accuracy, relevance and correspondence between the data and their interpretation
  • Take into account the subjectivity of the participant
  • Take into account the subjectivity of the researcher and how it impacts the research process
• Means to ensure credibility of the research

  1. Use a flexible, iterative approach

  2. Transcription of the data

  3. Use examples of data extract to support the results

  4. Account for subjectivity of the researcher

  5. Take into account the position of the researcher

  6. Reflexivity

  7. Take a distance from the research process

  8. Take into account the natural context of the phenomenon

  9. Contextualise the data

  10. Provide a detailed, in-depth analysis and description of the context where the phenomenon occurs

  11. Data triangulation

  12. Having multiple sources of data collection, and a convergence in their results

  13. Reaching empirical saturation
• Transferability


  • Refers to the ability to transfer the research results to other individuals
  • Not typically the aim in qualitative research, but can be achieved under certain circumstances
• Expected results


  Quantitative studies: Potential response to the hypotheses, Qualitative studies: Knowing more / better understanding the phenomenon
• Means to ensure transferability


  1. Detailed description of the participants' characteristics

  2. Detailed description of the context/environment in which the study is conducted
• Implications


  Explain how the findings may impact: Future research, Participants and target population, Interventions designed for the target population, Policies
• Aims of quantitative research

  • Produce objective research to uncover precise relationships between variables
  • Scientific rigor aims to ensure the quality of the research process while respecting the objectives of quantitative research
• External validity


  • Capacity to generalize or apply the results to other individuals, groups, contexts, periods of time
  • Depends on the extent to which the sample is representative of the larger population
  • Random sampling
• Sharing research


  Sufficient information so that others can: Understand the research, Criticize the research (in a constructive manner), Replicate the research, Build on the study to inspire future research, Honestly share the strengths and challenges encountered during the research
• Internal validity


  • The extent to which the data are trustworthy
  • The extent to which bias/error is present in the way we select participants, assign them to a control/experimental group, and measure and analyse the variables