Cited by 1,028Qualitative Research Methods and ApplicationsInnovations in Medical EducationQualitative Research Methods and Ethics

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Shedding the cobra effect: problematising thematic emergence, triangulation, saturation and member checking

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Varpio, Lara, Ajjawi, Rola, Monrouxe, Lynn V, O'Brien, Bridget C, Rees, Charlotte E·2017·Medical Education

DOI 10.1111/medu.13124

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Abstract

Context: Qualitative research is widely accepted as a legitimate approach to inquiry in health professions education ( HPE ). To secure this status, qualitative researchers have developed a variety of strategies (e.g. reliance on post‐positivist qualitative methodologies, use of different rhetorical techniques, etc.) to facilitate the acceptance of their research methodologies and methods by the HPE community. Although these strategies have supported the acceptance of qualitative research in HPE , they have also brought about some unintended consequences. One of these consequences is that some HPE scholars have begun to use terms in qualitative publications without critically reflecting on: (i) their ontological and epistemological roots; (ii) their definitions, or (iii) their implications. Objectives: In this paper, we share our critical reflections on four qualitative terms popularly used in the HPE literature: thematic emergence; triangulation; saturation, and member checking. Methods: We discuss the methodological origins of these terms and the applications supported by these origins. We reflect critically on how these four terms became expected of qualitative research in HPE , and we reconsider their meanings and use by drawing on the broader qualitative methodology literature. Conclusions: Through this examination, we hope to encourage qualitative scholars in HPE to avoid using qualitative terms uncritically and non‐reflexively.

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Authors: Varpio, L., Ajjawi, R., Monrouxe, L. V., O'Brien, B. C., & Rees, C. E.
Affiliations: Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (US)
Deakin University (AU)
Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (TW)
Department of Medicine University of California San Francisco San Francisco California USA
Monash University (AU)
Corresponding author: Varpio, Lara
ORCID: Varpio, Lara
Ajjawi, Rola
Monrouxe, Lynn V
Rees, Charlotte E
Venue: Medical Education
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2016-12-16
Volume: 51
Issue: 1
Pages: 40-50
ISSN: 0308-0110 (ISSN-L)
1365-2923
DOI: 10.1111/medu.13124
OpenAlex: W2562778769
Semantic Scholar: f6cc49a0d5ae5b26dadfdbc5c52c7ebf8dea5908
Cited by: 1,028
References: 64
Citations by year: 2026: 146 · 2025: 169 · 2024: 167 · 2023: 138 · 2022: 137 · 2021: 108 · 2020: 59 · 2019: 44 · 2018: 41 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 2
FWCI: 152.39
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: green
figshare.com
Licence: cc-by
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations: Medical Education (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
NOVA (University of Newcastle Australia) (submittedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Education › Qualitative Research Methods and Applications
Social Sciences › Education › Innovations in Medical Education
Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Qualitative Research Methods and Ethics
Keywords: qualitative research methodology, health professions education, triangulation, saturation, member checking, reflexivity, ontological and epistemological assumptions, research legitimacy
MeSH terms: Health Occupations, Humans, Research Design, Qualitative Research

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Shedding the cobra effect: problematising thematic emergence, triangulation, saturation and member checking

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