LESSON 27 - RELIABILITY: METHODS OF DETERMINING RELIABILITY / DEPENDABILITY IN QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

LESSON 27 - RELIABILITY: METHODS OF DETERMINING RELIABILITY / DEPENDABILITY IN QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

by Prof. Lydia Wambugu

Humanities, Social Sciences & Thought Science — General & History GPSResearch methodsGPSEQualitative research methods
🎙 Prof. Lydia Wambugu 👥 29K 📅 May 28, 2021 ⏱ 17 min 👁 5K 📄 tutorial 🧭 2026-08-17
Available in: English (current) Français

Keywords

reliabilitydependabilityqualitative researchaudit trailcoding

Summary

This lesson from a research methods course focuses on reliability in qualitative research, which is often termed dependability. The instructor explains that in qualitative research, the researcher is the main instrument, making it difficult to achieve identical results across researchers. Therefore, dependability emphasizes that findings are consistent with the raw data and that the research process is auditable. The lesson outlines five methods for determining dependability: audit trail, ensuring error-free transcripts, inter-coder reliability (interrater agreement), coordinating multiple researchers, and cross-checking codes. The importance of coding in qualitative research is discussed, including the use of a codebook and in vivo coding. Finally, the lesson addresses threats to validity and reliability, such as researcher bias, participant behavior, social context, and data collection methods, referencing Brink (1993). The instructor emphasizes using multiple strategies to enhance trustworthiness.

133 words

Critical Evaluation

Value of the Information & Strength of the Argument

The video provides a clear and structured overview of reliability in qualitative research, offering practical methods for ensuring dependability. The argumentation is logical, building from the definition of reliability to specific strategies and threats. The instructor effectively explains complex concepts in an accessible manner, making it valuable for students and practitioners. The emphasis on using multiple strategies and incorporating them into the research proposal is a strong practical takeaway.

Scientific Rigor, Source Quality, Title Accuracy

The content is scientifically rigorous, aligning with established qualitative research methodology. The instructor references Brink (1993) for threats to validity and reliability, and mentions a reference for coding, though not explicitly named. The title accurately reflects the content. The video is a tutorial, not a peer-reviewed source, but it is consistent with academic standards. The description provides links to the course and social media, but no direct citations to academic sources.

155 words

Title / Content Match

The title accurately reflects the content, which focuses on methods of determining reliability/dependability in qualitative research.

Quality & Reliability

7/10

The content is a structured academic tutorial, clearly explaining concepts and methods. It references established literature (e.g., Brink 1993) and provides practical guidance. However, it lacks explicit citations to specific sources during the lecture, and the video quality is basic. The information is consistent with standard qualitative research methodology.

Key Moments

Markers derived by PSI from the transcript: the creator did not define chapters.

Cited Sources

  • Research Methods Course — Full course access
  • YouTube Channel — Subscribe to channel
  • LinkedIn — Follow on social media
  • Facebook — Follow on social media
  • Instagram — Follow on social media
  • WhatsApp — Contact via WhatsApp

Concurring Sources

  • Lincoln & Guba (1985) Naturalistic Inquiry — Foundational work on trustworthiness in qualitative research, including dependability.

Contribution & Novelties

The video provides a concise and structured overview of methods to establish reliability/dependability in qualitative research, which is often a challenging concept for students. It synthesizes key strategies and threats, offering practical guidance. The emphasis on using multiple strategies and incorporating them into the research proposal is a valuable takeaway.

Pour aller plus loin :

  • Dependability in Qualitative Research — Overview of trustworthiness criteria including dependability.
  • Audit Trail in Qualitative Research — Discussion on audit trails as a strategy for ensuring rigor.
  • Thematic Analysis — Explanation of thematic analysis, which is related to coding in qualitative research.

97 words

Radar Profile

The radar profile shows balanced scores across all dimensions, with slightly higher scores in information quality and reliability, indicating a solid educational resource. The lower score in technical level suggests it is accessible to a broad audience, while the quantity of information is adequate for a short lesson.

Reliability 7/10

💬 No comments were provided for analysis.