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Is truth important in research? Unpacking half-truths and misrepresentations in the process

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Exploring “truth” in qualitative research can be a hidden expectation—that participants’ accounts are coherent and verifiable. Yet narratives often reveal contradictions, inconsistencies, or even deliberate misrepresentations, challenging researchers’ assumptions. Interviews are not neutral spaces; participants exercise agency in shaping the stories they share. From a constructivist perspective, the focus shifts from uncovering “truth” to engaging with layered, partial, and sometimes conflicting narratives. These complexities enrich understanding and challenge simplified representations of marginalised lives.

Source: Open Research Online (The Open University)

Author: Doka, Jane

Language: English

Topic: Qualitative Research Methods and Ethics

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W7140348719

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