Criteria for Trustworthiness (excerpts from a paper on Participatory Inquiry)

This brief note suggests methodological tools that could be used for establishing the validity of investigations made using participatory methods. In doing so, the paper draws on theory of conventional research which uses criteria such as internal and external validity, reliability and objectivity for establishing the trustworthiness of the research. Since these criteria are not amenable to participatory research, the note contends that other equivalent and alternative criteria, such as credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability would help establish the validity of a participatory inquiry. Participatory methods in use such as observation, triangulation, participants' checking of the data and its interpretation enhance the trustworthiness of the participatory enquiry.