Revisión de estudios de resistencia a la tracción en suelos

The following section will address the issue of quality criteria in general, and establish the standards adopted in this thesis. There is considerable debate around the extent to which standards for quality in qualitative research are required, desired and possible. Some researchers have argued that quality criteria can restrict the aspects of qualitative research which are most valuable (Barbour, 2001; Hammersley 2008), and over-simplify qualitative research by the application of general criteria, (Silverman, 2011). However, it is also argued that a pragmatic agreement on standards is required in order to strengthen the case for qualitative research’s position within the current evidence-based approach to healthcare delivery, (Yardley, 2000).

Different criteria have been proposed for assessing quality and validity in qualitative studies, and an extensive range of checklists, frameworks and criteria have been developed, (Patton, 2005; Flick, 2008; Silverman, 2013). Smith et al., (2009) and Langdridge (2007) offer Yardley’s (2000) four principles as one way of performing this assessment. The decision therefore to adopt Yardley’s criteria in this thesis was made with a conscious awareness of

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other approaches, however it was also felt pragmatically that to use Yardley’s criteria would ensure consistency with the IPA methodology chosen and the epistemological goals of the research (Yardley, 2000).

3.6.1. Sensitivity to context.

Yardley’s (2000) first principle expects the researcher to be well grounded in the method of analysis, the philosophy, the methodology and the underlying epistemology. This includes the need to be sensitive to the theoretical and academic context of the research, as the researcher positions the research in the context of current literature and relates the findings to relevant theory, and the socio-cultural setting of the study (Finlay, 2002; Smith et al., 2009). Adherence to this principle is achieved in this thesis through the in-depth methodology, detailed in Section 3.2 to 3.5, and the adoption of the research methods recommended in IPA, identified in Section 3.9. Descriptions of the participant’s characteristics, (gender, ethnicity, length of practice, and the Practice profile) and study context (childhood obesity prevalence for each Practice area) are presented in Appendix Eight of this thesis. Chapter 1 also highlights the current socio-cultural context of General Practice and childhood obesity in order that the research findings are considered in the current political and ideological context. In addition, the process of reflexivity has been used as a valuable tool for contextualising and reflecting upon the interpersonal and social context of interviews, as detailed in Section 3.10 and sustained throughout the in-depth analysis process.

3.6.2. Commitment and rigour.

Yardley (2000) argues that demonstrating rigour in data collection and analysis will depend on the choice of method and the researcher’s commitment to particular methodological and ethical principles. Within IPA, the relevant concepts include the adequacy of the sample size, the sampling technique used to offer insight into the phenomenon, the data collection and analysis, and the coherence of the narrative presented in the research findings, described within this thesis in Section 3.8 and 3.9. Rigour also includes a consideration of the epistemological and theoretical basis, and any limitations of the methodology, these areas are detailed in Section 3.2 to 3.5 and in Chapter 5.

The concept of commitment, according to Yardley (2000), also involves the researcher’s in- depth engagement with the topic through developing competence and skill in the method used. The author of this thesis has acquired these skills thought attendance at national IPA

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training sessions, lectures and practical IPA group work activities, which have explored interview skills for semi-structured interviews, data analysis and ensuring quality. In addition, the author was a founding member of the Manchester IPA forum group, which met monthly and enabled postgraduate IPA students to meet, discuss their work and share learning. Four members of this IPA group provided peer review and critical interrogation of the data in this study. Peer review was also carried out in the form of audits of analysis carried out by the research supervisors of this thesis who have considerable professional and research expertise in childhood obesity. Throughout the supervision process both supervisors identified additional areas in the transcripts and narratives that they felt were interesting and important. Two of the participants in the study also agreed to read the findings, discussion, and recommendations chapter and provided comments. Finally the recommendations of the report were shared in the draft stages with GP Educators at the North West Deanery and Public Health Consultants to assess their relevance for future practice.

3.6.3. Transparency and coherence.

Yardley’s (2000) third principle of quality relates to transparency and coherence of the research process and the presentation of the research product. This should be demonstrated when developing the questions, collecting, analysing and reporting on the data, and accounting for the development of findings through reflexivity and explicit analytic methods (Yardley, 2000; Smith et al., 2009). The explicit and systematic process for IPA analysis and the development of themes is documented in Section 3.9 and evidenced in the accompanying Appendices Nine, Ten, and Eleven. Coherence also refers to the way the research is presented (Yardley, 2000). The findings in Chapter 5 include “retrievable data” (Stanley, 2004, p.10), such as extended quotes from the GPs to evidence the analysis. It was recognised at the onset that contradictions and ambiguities would be identified in this research given that the aim was to explore the perspectives of a professional group in relation to the complex area of childhood obesity. Chapter 5 specifically highlights this and provides a structural framework for providing an initial insight into such complexities.

3.6.4. Impact and importance.

Finally Yardley’s (2000) principle of impact and importance reflects that however well or sensitively a piece of research is conducted, the most decisive way it may be evaluated is in whether or not it tells the reader something interesting, new and novel. This commitment extends beyond the research setting to the ways in which the research is disseminated and

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transferred to real world settings. There is an inherent commitment in this thesis to ensuring that the novel and original findings offer recommendations to support and improve clinical practice. Chapter Six of this thesis presents practical recommendations for consideration at a policy, practice and individual clinician level. Equally there is a clear commitment to the dissemination of findings in the most appropriate professional settings including journal publications and conference abstracts.