Hi everyone,
I'm new to qualitative research, and I'm in the process of developing a study on validating an existing measure in a different population. The focus is to explore how participants understand, respond and interpret the items of the measure. I've read similar papers, but some of them do not mention their stance at all, whilst others use an IPA stance. I couldn't find clear guidance on how to help you identify what approach is more suitable for your research. Personally, I have my feet in two camps depending on the subject, which makes it even harder to decide. So basically, the question is, what stance would be more suitable for instrument validation and exploring how the particular group interpret the measure?
There are various epistemological stances in qualitative research, such as positivism, interpretivism, constructivism, and critical theory.
Positivism is a scientific approach to research that emphasizes objectivity, quantification, and empirical observation. Interpretivism, on the other hand, emphasizes the subjective nature of human experience and focuses on understanding the meaning behind individual experiences. Constructivism emphasizes the role of the researcher and the constructed nature of reality. Critical theory is concerned with power relations, inequality, and social justice.
Regarding instrument validation and exploring how a particular group interprets the measure, an interpretive or constructivist stance may be more appropriate. These stances allow for more flexibility in data collection and analysis, which is essential for exploring participants' understanding of the measure's items. Additionally, using these epistemological stances can help uncover any biases or assumptions that may have influenced the development of the instrument. Ultimately, the choice of epistemological stance depends on the research question and the context of the study.
It sounds like you are doing something related to cognitive interviewing. If so, this is widely accepted research procedure that does not need to be justified according to any particular set of philosophical assumptions.
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