Validity Testing : A Systematic Examination of Social Consensus and Intersubjectivity in Qualitative Observation / Anita L. Vangelisti.

Communication scholars have addressed a number of theoretical issues concerning the basis of knowledge and reality. They have not, however, accompanied their theories with parallel empirical studies. Given the important implications such work might have for the interpretation and generalizability of observer accounts, two studies were conducted during a weekend workshop on qualitative research methods. The first study examined similarities and differences in four groups' accounts of an event to which all were uniformly exposed. Comparisons were made between group descriptions to determine the degree to which groups of individual accounts agree. The second study involved nine intensive interviews with the members of one of the four groups, who were asked to provide descriptions of an event experienced by all. Data were compared between individual group members. Results of the studies indicated in general that the group accounts were consistent within each group, but that individual accounts varied in both focus and specificity. (FL)

Microfiche. [Washington D.C.]: ERIC Clearinghouse microfiches : positive.