cutliffe-and-mckenna-audit-trail

METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES IN NURSING RESEARCHExpert qualitative researchers and the use of audit trailsJohn R. Cutcliffe BSc PhD RMN RGNProfessor of Nursing and Canadian Research Chair Nominee, University of Northern British Columbia, British Columbia,Canadaand Hugh P. McKenna BSc PhD RMN RGN AdvDipEd RNT FFN RCSI FRCN FEANSProfessor, Head of School of Nursing, University of Ulster, Belfast, UKSubmitted for publication 9 December 2002Accepted for 25 June 2003Correspondence: CUTCLIFFECUTCLIFFE JJ.R..R. && MMccKEKENNNANA H.H.PP. . (2(2000044) ) Journal of Advanced Nursing 45(2),John Cutcliffe, 126–1353333 University Way, Expert qualitative researchers and the use of audit trailsUniversity of Northern British Columbia, Background. Determining the credibility of qualitative research findings remains aPrince George,contested area and leaves the way open for additional theoretical and methodolo-British Columbia V2N 4Z9,gical discussion.Canada.Aims. In this paper we focus on audit trails and confirmability, within the contextE-mail: dr.johnr@shaw.caof ‘expert’ qualitative researchers. Having outlined the audit trail process, wedevelop existing arguments about the ‘expert’ qualitative researcher. We then jux-tapose the two, highlighting a number of issues in an attempt to advance the debate.Discussion. These issues discussed are: (1) The shifting sands of methodologicalorthodoxy – the historical context in which audit trails emerged. (2) The ...