Abstract
Qualitative data collection is increasingly occurring online, with data collection methods often lacking the synchronous contact between researchers and participants present in more traditional methods of qualitative data collection such as face-to-face interviews. Despite numerous benefits of non-synchronous online methods of qualitative data collection, such methods also pose unique challenges concerning participant eligibility and data quality in the qualitative domain. Due to a longer tradition of conducting non-synchronous quantitative online data collection, researchers have discussed issues related to data quality for use within quantitative research, and developed techniques to address such issues. However, such discussions have not taken place within qualitative research and due to the differences in types of data and theoretical underpinnings, only some of the techniques developed in quantitative research can be appropriately applied in qualitative research. In this paper, we address this knowledge gap by providing an important ‘how to guide’, presenting techniques to help address threats to data quality and integrity in non-synchronous online qualitative research. We start by outlining techniques developed for use in quantitative research that can be appropriately transferred to qualitative paradigms, before proposing techniques to manage challenges faced specifically by non-synchronous online qualitative research. We go on to discuss some of the potential pitfalls which can prevent the implementation of these techniques and how to overcome them. Finally, we urge researchers to be transparent about the techniques they implement to optimise data quality and to adopt a proactive rather than reactive approach to maximising data quality in qualitative research studies.
Highlights
Within the last two decades, the use of qualitative methods has gained momentum in the field of psychology, a trend accompanied by an increasing diversity of qualitative methods
Many methods offer the opportunity for use online with and without synchronous contact between researcher and participants, facilitating large participant samples with relatively little researcher time dedicated to participant recruitment and data collection
Such data collection methods include textual data from qualitative surveys, diaries, and story completion (Braun et al, 2020; Clarke et al, 2017; Meth, 2017), visual data in the form of photos, drawings, or other images (e.g., Pain, 2012), and combinations of these data collection methods (e.g. Favaro et al, 2017; Hayfield and Wood, 2019). Many of these methods have long been used within qualitative psychology, the recent move towards their use online provides investigation of previously unexplored or inaccessible areas and populations, and thereby opens new avenues of
Summary
Within the last two decades, the use of qualitative methods has gained momentum in the field of psychology, a trend accompanied by an increasing diversity of qualitative methods. Many methods offer the opportunity for use online with and without synchronous contact between researcher and participants, facilitating large participant samples with relatively little researcher time dedicated to participant recruitment and data collection. Such data collection methods include textual data from qualitative surveys, diaries, and story completion (Braun et al, 2020; Clarke et al, 2017; Meth, 2017), visual data in the form of photos, drawings, or other images (e.g., Pain, 2012), and combinations of these data collection methods Researchers must ensure appropriate alignment across their research questions, methods of data collection and analysis, and overall research paradigm
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