Under The Big Tent: Criteria and Ethics in Qualitative Research

• In Event: Scientifically Based Research and Research Quality

Abstract

In this paper we rejoin the conversation about evaluating the quality of qualitative research. A few years ago at AERA, we presented a paper about the disjuncture between the theoretical sophistication of qualitative research methodology and the persistence of traditional criteria used to evaluate qualitative work. Since then, much has been written about evaluating qualitative research, but little has changed in practice. Here we consider Tracy’s (2010) “big tent” universal criteria for judging the goodness of qualitative studies, apply them to our own work, and situate her ideas within a womanist caring ethical framework. We argue that any criteria for evaluating the quality of qualitative research can never be “neutral” but are grounded in a particular ethical framework.

Authors

• Jenny Gordon, Binghamton University - SUNY

• Jean A. Patterson, Wichita State University