Evaluating the quality of research is essential if findings are to be utilised in practice and incorporated into care delivery. In a previous article we explored 'bias' across research designs and outlined strategies to minimise bias.1 The aim of this article is to further outline rigour, or the integrity in which a study is conducted, and ensure the credibility of findings in relation to qualitative research. Concepts such as reliability, validity and generalisability typically associated with quantitative research and alternative terminology will be compared in relation to their application to qualitative research. In addition, some of the strategies adopted by qualitative researchers to enhance the credibility of their research are outlined.Are the terms reliability and validity relevant to ensuring credibility in qualitative research?Assessing the reliability of study findings requires researchers and health professionals to make judgements about the 'soundness' of the research in relation to the application and appropriateness of the methods undertaken and the integrity of the final conclusions. Qualitative research is frequently criticised for lacking scientific rigour with poor justification of the methods adopted, lack of transparency in the analytical procedures and the findings being merely a collection of personal opinions subject to researcher bias. 2 3 For the novice researcher, demonstrating rigour when undertaking qualitative research is challenging because there is no of accepted consensus about the standards by which such research should be judged. 2Although the tests and measures used to establish the validity and reliability of quantitative research cannot be applied to qualitative research, there are ongoing debates about whether terms such as validity, reliability and generalisability are appropriate to evaluate qualitative research. [2][3][4] In the broadest context these terms are applicable, with validity referring to the integrity and application of the methods undertaken and the precision in which the findings accurately reflect the data, while reliability describes consistency within the employed analytical procedures.

Qualitative methods are invaluable for exploring the complexities of healthcare, and in particular patient experiences. There are a diverse range of qualitative methods incorporating different ontological and epistemological perspectives. One method of data analysis that appears to be gaining popularity among healthcare researchers is the framework approach. We will outline the framework approach, discuss its relative merits and provide a working example of its application.

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Background Living with a child with a long-term condition can result in challenges above usual parenting because of illnessspecific demands. A critical evaluation of research exploring parents' experiences of living with a child with a long-term condition is timely because international health policy advocates that patients with long-term conditions become active collaborators in care decisions.

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