Coming out in college residence halls: Negotiation, meaning making, challenges, supports

Journal of College Student Development, Nov/Dec 1999 by Evans, Nancy J, Broido, Ellen M

Trustworthiness, Authenticity, and Fairness

The criteria by which qualitative research is judged have been characterized as falling into two major categories: those indicative of trustworthiness and those addressing authenticity and fairness (Guba & Lincoln, 1994; Lincoln & Guba, 1986). Trustworthiness criteria include credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability (Lincoln & Guba, 1985), whereas authenticity has been described as having ontological, educative, catalytic and tactical forms (Lincoln & Guba, 1986).

Credibility is established, in part, by stating clearly the procedures by which the study was conducted, the data were analyzed, and the conclusions were drawn (Patton, 1990). Much of that information has been described above. Although the time frame in which this study was conducted made impossible the sharing of the findings with the majority of the participants, (and thus the findings were not subject to member checks), the findings were shared with residence life professionals at the campus where this study was conducted, with a focus on how the findings might impact the training and policies of the residence life program. Additionally, the findings have been shared with numerous residence life professionals and other researchers with interest in campus-based lesbian, gay, and bisexual issues across the country. These presentations of the study's methods and findings served as forms of peer debriefing and inquiry audit, standard methods of supporting the credibility of the study.

Additionally, Patton (1990) has asserted the necessity of indicating the researchers' qualifications for the study and the paradigmatic orientation and assumptions underlying the study. All members of the research team were visible members of the campus lesbian, gay, bisexual, and ally communities who were at least casually known to most participants. All of the researchers have worked as residence life professionals, and the two analysts both have significant prior experience conducting qualitative research and research on lesbian, gay, and bisexual issues.

Transferability, defined by Lincoln and Guba (1985) as whether or not the research is useful in another situation, is demonstrated by the use of thick, rich description. In this article, the context of the study and the characteristics of the participants have been described. In addition, numerous quotes have been provided to support the conclusions that were drawn. Confirmability addresses whether the findings are supported by the data (Lincoln & Guba; Marshall & Rossman, 1995). In this study the authors' separate analyses of the data lend support to the findings, as does public presentation of the data and findings to others interested in the subject.

Fairness and authenticity address ethical and ideological issues that arise in naturalistic research, particularly research associated with issues of social justice (Lincoln & Guba, 1986). Although methods of ascertaining whether these criteria have been met are still largely undefined (Guba & Lincoln, 1994; Lincoln & Guba), as a whole they entail conducting the research in such a manner that participants and researchers are empowered to understand better both their own and others' lives, and to take action to create more equitable social structures. In our research we attempted to act with fairness and authenticity, as evidenced by our interaction with participants in the selection and interview process (described above), and in our discussion of the findings with decision-makers in the residence life system in which the study was conducted. Our goal in working with these administrators was to provide information that would assist them in creating environments more conducive to the coming-out experience of future residents.