Schafer Robyn, Phillippi Julia C
School of Nursing, Division of Advanced Practice, Rutgers University, USA.
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Rutgers University, USA.
Int J Qual Methods. 2025 Jan-Dec;24. doi: 10.1177/16094069251315395. Epub 2025 Jan 16.
Member checking enhances the trustworthiness and transformative potential of qualitative research. There are a variety of aims and approaches to reengaging with participants in sharing data or preliminary analysis and soliciting feedback through member checking. Published studies often lack descriptions of member-checking methods or outcomes, and there is a lack of research on the use of technologies for this purpose. Asynchronous video and internet-based technologies can be valuable tools to improve the accessibility, equity, effectiveness, and acceptability of member checking and foster increased engagement. This publication presents a detailed description of member checking in an exemplar study that used readily available technologies to create a video synopsis of preliminary findings and embed that video in a multimedia, mixed methods web-based survey which was emailed to participants. This member-checking method was purposefully selected to advance the specific research aims of the study, reflect the epistemological stance of the researchers and unique considerations of the study population, and address relevant situational factors to optimize participant engagement. This strategy facilitated wide, cost-effective, and timely distribution and resulted in a good response rate with rich feedback. Asynchronous technologies were a useful alternative to in-person or synchronous meetings to facilitate voluntary participation, foster reflection that deepened analysis, and capture multiple voices and perspectives. Findings from this research support the use of video and electronic survey technologies to enhance study credibility, address ethical and methodological challenges related to member checking, and increase equity and engagement. Future studies are needed to expand and refine integration of technologies into member checking to address diverse research aims, contexts, and study populations.
成员核对可提高定性研究的可信度和变革潜力。在与参与者重新分享数据或初步分析并通过成员核对征求反馈方面，有多种目标和方法。已发表的研究往往缺乏对成员核对方法或结果的描述，并且缺乏关于为此目的使用技术的研究。异步视频和基于互联网的技术可以成为提高成员核对的可及性、公平性、有效性和可接受性并促进更多参与的宝贵工具。本出版物详细描述了一项范例研究中的成员核对情况，该研究使用现成的技术创建了初步结果的视频概要，并将该视频嵌入到一个基于网络的多媒体混合方法调查中，通过电子邮件发送给参与者。这种成员核对方法是经过特意选择的，以推进该研究的特定研究目标，反映研究人员的认识论立场和研究人群的独特考量，并应对相关情境因素以优化参与者的参与度。这一策略促进了广泛、经济高效且及时的传播，并获得了良好的回复率和丰富的反馈。异步技术是面对面或同步会议的有益替代方式，有助于促进自愿参与，促使深入分析的反思，并捕捉多种声音和观点。本研究的结果支持使用视频和电子调查技术来提高研究可信度，应对与成员核对相关的伦理和方法挑战，并提高公平性和参与度。未来的研究需要扩大和完善技术在成员核对中的整合，以应对不同的研究目标、背景和研究人群。
