El dilema teórico práctico

The criteria differ for evaluating the trustworthiness of research under positivist and constructivist paradigms. While positivists use internal and external validity, reliability and objectivity to evaluate the goodness or quality of research, constructivists use credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability (Lincoln & Guba, 1985). The basic criteria of trustworthiness under a constructivist paradigm and practical techniques of how they were achieved in this research are described below.

Credibility in qualitative research refers to “how truthful the findings are” (Decrop, 2004, p. 159). In order to enhance the credibility of this research, several techniques were employed. Firstly, credibility was enhanced by prolonged engagement in the research setting and persistent observation in the field (Creswell, 2013). The researcher had lived in Latvia prior to commencement of the research and visited the country several times afterwards. This allowed in-depth experience and understanding of the situational context in which the research took place. Secondly, this contextual information was provided throughout the research in order to support data analysis and interpretation; this technique is known as referential adequacy (Decrop, 2004).

Transferability is an alternative to generalization and refers to the possibility of transferring knowledge or research findings to another setting or group (Lincoln & Guba, 1985). Since qualitative research often deals with small and non-representative samples, the findings cannot be generalised. However, it is possible to distinguish between statistical and analytical generalisation – “while statistical generalisation of qualitative data is most often not possible or desirable, the analytical transfer of theoretical propositions to other objects (people, settings, phenomena, etc.) is conceivable” (Decrop, 2004, p. 159). In order to enhance transferability, two techniques can be employed. Firstly, theoretical sampling was used ensuring that the sample is diverse and the researcher can access the broadest possible range of information (ibid.). Secondly, transferability was enhanced by writing rich, thick descriptions of the participants and research setting (Creswell, 2013). The capacity for transferability depends on the level of detail provided; therefore, a full description of the context in which the research has taken place was provided to allow the transfer of knowledge gained in another context (Bazeley, 2013).

Dependability refers to the extent to which the research results are consistent and reproducible (Decrop, 2004). In order to enhance dependability, several techniques were used. Firstly, since constructivism assumes multiple realities which depend on the context, all changes in the research plan and research context were documented (ibid.). Secondly, an audit trail was kept to enable another researcher to check whether he or she can come to the same conclusions (Bryman, 2016). The records from all phases of the research process were kept including interview transcripts and data analysis decisions.

Finally, a second opinion in data interpretation was sought using peer review or debriefing (Creswell, 2013). In this research, both supervisors provided valuable comments which helped to interpret the data.

Confirmability indicates whether the researcher has acted “in good faith” (Bryman, 2016, p. 386) and the findings are neutral (Decrop, 2004). While a researcher working with an interpretivist paradigm is subjective rather than objective, it is possible to make the actual data analysis objective. This was done by searching for a variety of explanations about the constructs examined and by reporting theoretically meaningful variables (ibid.). Another technique to enhance confirmability is to use an external auditor who can review interviews and analytical procedures (Creswell, 2013). For this research, both internal and external PhD examiners act as external auditors.

In addition to the four trustworthiness criteria described above, another way to enhance the trustworthiness of the research is by using triangulation. The main assumption here is that “information coming from different angles or perspectives is used to corroborate, elaborate or illuminate the research problem” (Decrop, 2004, p. 162). Triangulation is often used to strengthen qualitative findings (Decrop, 1999). There are four types of triangulation identified by Denzin (1978), namely; data, investigator, theory and methodological triangulation. Two out of the four triangulation methods – data and theory triangulation – were used in this research.

Data triangulation or triangulation of data sources implies that a variety of data sources can be used in a study which can be primary or secondary, textual or visual and can include also field notes (Decrop, 2004). A particular type of triangulation of data sources is informant triangulation which “involves considering a broad range of informants and comparing what they say;” it is possible to include both typical and atypical informants (Decrop, 2004, p. 163). In this research, the perspectives of people from different point of views – public sector and private sector, supply side and demand side – were collected and compared (Patton, 2002).

Theoretical triangulation implies using multiple perspectives or theories to interpret a single set of data (Denzin, 1978). Since tourism is regarded as a multidisciplinary phenomenon (Decrop, 2004), considering theories from different

disciplines is especially relevant in order to ensure richer and more comprehensive interpretations of constructs examined. For example, Dickinson and Lumsdon (2010) suggest that tourism practices should be examined from the point of view of both individual agency and the available tourism structures. While the actor / agent perspective takes into account individual values, habits / experiences and social reference groups, the tourism structures take into account institutionalised tourism arrangements, societal structures, holiday travel rules and resources, booking options and travel infrastructure. Consequently, tourism practices are influenced by both. Taking into account multiple perspectives allows theoretical triangulation. In this research, several theoretical approaches were used to interpret the data. For instance, the data was examined from different disciplinary angles (Decrop, 1999), e.g. marketing, sociology and psychology.