Reflections on qualitative research: Lessons learned to ensure research integrity

This article focusses on teaching medical students qualitative research in a practical setting of a study about sexual health. Insufficient training, research deviating from the proposal and context-related factors contributed to compromising trustworthiness of the study. The article provides a back...

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Main Authors: Deidré Pretorius, Khyati Dama, Michelle Erasmus
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AOSIS 2025-04-01
Series:South African Family Practice
Subjects:
Online Access:https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/6082
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author Deidré Pretorius
Khyati Dama
Michelle Erasmus
author_facet Deidré Pretorius
Khyati Dama
Michelle Erasmus
author_sort Deidré Pretorius
collection DOAJ
description This article focusses on teaching medical students qualitative research in a practical setting of a study about sexual health. Insufficient training, research deviating from the proposal and context-related factors contributed to compromising trustworthiness of the study. The article provides a background to the study and reflects on factors that contributed to the breach of research integrity after the research supervisor questioned the credibility of findings. A semi-structured interview schedule was used, and data analysis exposed flaws. The team used Jasper’s reflective cycle to change a crisis into a learning opportunity. The action plan triggered round two of data collection, followed by another reflective cycle. Contribution: The supervision role and student knowledge and attitude contributed to the undergraduate research project. Until a research report is submitted or data published, researchers can learn from the process to produce reliable results and rigorous ethical research.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2078-6190
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publishDate 2025-04-01
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record_format Article
series South African Family Practice
spelling doaj-art-5f89e2c75f9c43dfabbfd7db9a21696d2025-08-20T04:03:18ZengAOSISSouth African Family Practice2078-61902078-62042025-04-01671e1e610.4102/safp.v67i1.60824940Reflections on qualitative research: Lessons learned to ensure research integrityDeidré Pretorius0Khyati Dama1Michelle Erasmus2Department of Family Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health, University of the Witwatersrand, JohannesburgUnit of Undergraduate Medical Education, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health, University of the Witwatersrand, JohannesburgUnit of Undergraduate Medical Education, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health, University of the Witwatersrand, JohannesburgThis article focusses on teaching medical students qualitative research in a practical setting of a study about sexual health. Insufficient training, research deviating from the proposal and context-related factors contributed to compromising trustworthiness of the study. The article provides a background to the study and reflects on factors that contributed to the breach of research integrity after the research supervisor questioned the credibility of findings. A semi-structured interview schedule was used, and data analysis exposed flaws. The team used Jasper’s reflective cycle to change a crisis into a learning opportunity. The action plan triggered round two of data collection, followed by another reflective cycle. Contribution: The supervision role and student knowledge and attitude contributed to the undergraduate research project. Until a research report is submitted or data published, researchers can learn from the process to produce reliable results and rigorous ethical research.https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/6082qualitative researchresearch integritytrustworthinesscredibilitysupervisionjasper’s reflection modelstudent-supervisor relationship.
spellingShingle Deidré Pretorius
Khyati Dama
Michelle Erasmus
Reflections on qualitative research: Lessons learned to ensure research integrity
South African Family Practice
qualitative research
research integrity
trustworthiness
credibility
supervision
jasper’s reflection model
student-supervisor relationship.
title Reflections on qualitative research: Lessons learned to ensure research integrity
title_full Reflections on qualitative research: Lessons learned to ensure research integrity
title_fullStr Reflections on qualitative research: Lessons learned to ensure research integrity
title_full_unstemmed Reflections on qualitative research: Lessons learned to ensure research integrity
title_short Reflections on qualitative research: Lessons learned to ensure research integrity
title_sort reflections on qualitative research lessons learned to ensure research integrity
topic qualitative research
research integrity
trustworthiness
credibility
supervision
jasper’s reflection model
student-supervisor relationship.
url https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/6082
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AT khyatidama reflectionsonqualitativeresearchlessonslearnedtoensureresearchintegrity
AT michelleerasmus reflectionsonqualitativeresearchlessonslearnedtoensureresearchintegrity