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Are there any journals which publish stand alone case studies

My committee has different opinions on this. Some say piloting is essential for rigor, while others say it's an iterative process and I can refine questions after a few interviews. I'm seeking a balanced, experienced perspective to inform my study timeline and methodological rigor.

 

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By Meredith Answered 3 years ago

I would strongly recommend a pilot or validation phase. In my projects, I've seen how testing the guide with 2-3 individuals from a similar (but not identical) population is invaluable. It reveals unclear questions, logical flow issues, and whether your probes effectively elicit rich data. This isn't about statistical validation but about ensuring communicative validity that your questions are understood as intended. It saves tremendous time and ethical concerns later. You can then refine the guide with confidence, strengthening your study's credibility from the outset.

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