ABSTRACT
As a general rule, the results of qualitative research are considered more dependable when the responses of participants are independently analyzed by two or more individuals. Then, they compare the results of their analyses and discuss any discrepancies in an effort to reach a consensus. Doing this assures consumers of research that the results represent more than just the impressions of one individual, which might be idiosyncratic. The researchers had their preliminary results reviewed by two other individuals who had experienced incarceration. When researchers seek feedback on their preliminary results from the participants in the research, the process is called member checking. Using member checking is not always feasible, especially with very young participants and participants with limited cognitive abilities. Qualitative researchers disclose their own background characteristics as they relate to the variables under investigation. Qualitative researchers typically report few, if any, statistics in the Results section.
