Rigorous missiological research using qualitative inquiry

Abstract

Over the years, we (the authors) have fielded many questions concerning qualitative inquiry (i.e., research whose findings are reported in descriptive narrative rather than concrete numbers). An oft-repeated theme of these questions concerns rigor (e.g., how can the study be rigorous when you collect people’s perceptions of things?). Hence, this article primarily addresses the issue of rigor in qualitative inquiry. However, given that rigor in qualitative inquiry touches on every aspect of its design and implementation, we have chosen to embed our discussion of rigor in an overview of what a qualitative inquiry consists of, as it is practiced in numerous academic contexts all around the globe. Taken in its entirely, the article seeks to enhance readers’ appreciation for the qualitative research paradigm, to whet their appetite to deepen their understanding of it, and to encourage them learn more about it so they might employ it rigorously in their own missiological research.