Getting Specific about Qualitative Research Generalizability.

Abstract

The question of generalizability or the usefulness of qualitative research results beyond the confines of the primary site, sample, and study has been hotly debated by qualitative researchers for decades. When examining this question of generalization the first surprising finding is there appears to be no general consensus about the definition, value, and process of generalizability across the world of qualitative research. Despite these apparent conflicts, there are useful strategies to utilize for those qualitative researchers who hold that their findings can be transferable from the specific qualitative research investigation to other particular situations.