This then gives the work reasonable transferability. URL http://www.jstor.org/stable/40005275

The second article addressed the challenge faced by the wives of veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In this study, the researchers examined the perceptions of nine wives whose husbands were experiencing PTSD. The data were collected using a semi-structured in-depth focus group. The sample design for the research is purposeful and consequently the researcher was unable to derive statistical generalizability from their data. However, the data collected would have great depth and authenticity since it would represent the phenomenon more completely than another approach.

The focus group lasted two hours and provided an opportunity for the wives to engage in rich discussion about their experiences (Strauss & Corbin 1990). The group discussion was conducted in Hebrew; it was videotaped and later transcribed. The use of the focus group would be beneficial for this problem because the quantum of available data on the subject is very limited. Thus in using the focus group the researcher is able to create "concentrated amounts of data" and save on both time and money when compared to personal interviews (Dekel, Goldblatt, Keidar, Solomon, & Polliack, 2005). The focus group however suffers from the chronic problem of a single individual dominating the discussion, which may skew the data collected or drive the group off topic.

The videotaping of the sessions is an important component of improving the dependability and credibility of the data collected. The videotaping of the sessions allowed the researchers to capture essentially all that the unaided human eye would miss since the researcher is both instrument of collection...

Mechanisms that allow the data that are collected to be free from researcher bias are very useful as tools to ensure dependability and the credibility of the data.
The method used for data collection in this work despite the weaknesses associated with focus groups would have high levels of transferability. This is because the participants in the focus group are immediately engaged in the experiences that the researcher is concerned about. Thus, it would be possible to extend the conclusion from this sample to a population of similar composition. Additionally, the participants are highly knowledgeable on the experiences associated with the phenomenon, the data and by extension properly analyzed finding should be dependable.

References

Creswell J.W. (1994).Research Design: Qualitative and Quantitative approaches. London: Sage

Publications.

Dekel, R, Goldblatt. H., Keidar, M. Solomon, Z. Polliack, M. (2005). Being a Wife of a Veteran

with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Family Relations, 54(1): 24-36.

Huntington, D., Lettenmaier, C., & Obeng-Quaidoo, I. (1990) User's Perspective of Counseling

Training in Ghana: The "Mystery Client" Trial. Studies in Family Planning, 21(3): 171-

Kennedy, M.M. (1984). Assessing the Validity of Qualitative Data. Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, 6(4): 367-377.

Key, J.P. (1997). Research design in occupational education. Retrieved from http://www.okstate.edu/ag/agedcm4h/academic/aged5980a/5980/newpage21.htm

Strauss, A., & Corbin, J. (1990). Basics of qualitative research: Grounded theory procedures and techniques. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.