Debriefing

There are six major types of debriefing in qualitative research: peer debriefing, debriefing the participants on completion of the study, debriefing the gatekeeper, debriefing among multiple researchers involved in the same study, debriefing focus group moderators, anda new type of debriefing involving debriefing the researcher. Each type is discussed in this entry.

Peer debriefing, the first type of debriefing, is a method for establishing credibility. This is undertaken [Page 200]by the researcher discussing the study with a trusted and knowledgeable peer who can give informed feedback to assist the researcher in exploring aspects of the study that have, until that point, remained hidden. Through peer debriefing, the researcher attempts to keep her or his bias out of the study. Furthermore, peer debriefing can motivate the researcher to delve deeper into the data so as to understand more fully the participants' perspectives. Another purpose of peer debriefing is to resolve methodological issues. Analysis and interpretation of data can be discussed through peer debriefing either after the data analysis and interpretations have been made or as the data analysis and/or interpretations evolve. This can help the researcher to obtain trustworthy findings by ensuring that the findings are confirmable by the peer debriefer. Using peer debriefing in this way motivates the researcher to keep an audit trail, which represents a systematically maintained documentation system that includes a statement of the theoretical/conceptual framework underlying the study, a description of procedures used to collect and analyze the data, emergent themes, extracted data, interpretations of data, and memos. Peer debriefing can be conducted to enable the researcher to discuss political or ethical issues, to have a sounding board for confusing or uncomfortable issues, and to clear her or his mind.

A second type of debriefing involves the researcher debriefing the participants on completion of the study so as to explain the goals, purposes, and outcomes of the study. Typically, debriefing is conducted with the participants when there has been any undisclosed information about the study, but debriefing could be conducted to inform participants of the results. If the researcher senses any uncomfortable feelings or thoughts from the participants, debriefing at the end of the study can help to clear the air. Sharing the results at the culmination of a study shows respect for the time and energy that the participants gave to the study. The qualitative researcher could use debriefing sessions to reassure the participants that confidentiality will be maintained. Debriefing sessions also could be used to negotiate elements of the participants' stories that will appear in the final report.

In the third type of debriefing, the qualitative researcher should debrief (e.g., delineate findings to) the gatekeeper, who is the person from whom the researcher must obtain approval to gain access to a group or cultural site. Such debriefing should motivate the gatekeeper to provide the researcher with future access to the participants.

A fourth type of debriefing is when more than one researcher is involved in a study. In this situation, the researchers should debrief each other regularly. Debriefing among researchers should occur in a comfortable private location where they can discuss issues that include thoughts about interactions with participants, the research focus, data collected, unexpected findings, ethical dilemmas that emerged, and/or whether a change in the research study's direction is warranted. Being able to discuss thoughts and perceptions with another researcher can create a “shared space” of investigation that can help researchers to move beyond the surface of the investigated phenomenon and delve deeper into the study, thereby enhancing understanding (i.e., increasing Verstehen) of the underlying phenomenon. Sharing memos with each other during debriefing also can be beneficial. Debriefing discussions should be audiorecorded because the information from these discussions can be considered as data that can help the researchers to understand the phenomenon under study.

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