Table 1. Authenticity as an alternative... | Emerald Publishing

Table 1.

Authenticity as an alternative quality criterion in IB research

Authenticity criteria by Guba (2004, p. 45)	Application of authenticity criteria in IB
Fairness “The extent to which all competing constructions of reality, as well as their underlying value structures, have been accessed, exposed, deconstructed, and taken into account in shaping the inquiry product, that is, the emergent reconstruction”	Allowing the most plausible explanation to emerge abductively from the research process, rather than being anchored to a predetermined presumption of reality or a preconceived theoretical stance
Ontological authenticity “The extent to which individual respondents’ (and the inquirer’s) early constructions are improved, matured, expanded, and elaborated, so that all parties possess more information and become more sophisticated in its use”	Conveying the iterative learning of both the researchers and research participants throughout the research process, and illustrating how this learning contributes to (hermeneutic) knowledge creation
Educative authenticity “The extent to which individual respondents (and the inquirer) possess enhanced understanding of, appreciation for, and tolerance of the constructions of others outside their own stakeholding group”	Accepting, acknowledging and embracing pluralism, multiple perspectives and alternative explanations of the studied phenomenon
Catalytic authenticity “The extent to which action (clarifying the focus at issue, moving to eliminate or ameliorate the problem, and/or sharpening values) is stimulated and facilitated by the inquiry process”	Aligning the study’s ontological, epistemological, methodological and axiomatic approaches to support the study’s purpose and the role of the researcher in the inquiry process
Tactical authenticity “The degree to which participants are empowered to take the action(s) that the inquiry implies or proposes”	Protecting participants’ rights and integrity while creating a safe, trusting environment for sharing insights with the researcher

Authenticity criteria by Guba (2004, p. 45)	Application of authenticity criteria in IB
Fairness “The extent to which all competing constructions of reality, as well as their underlying value structures, have been accessed, exposed, deconstructed, and taken into account in shaping the inquiry product, that is, the emergent reconstruction”	Allowing the most plausible explanation to emerge abductively from the research process, rather than being anchored to a predetermined presumption of reality or a preconceived theoretical stance
Ontological authenticity “The extent to which individual respondents’ (and the inquirer’s) early constructions are improved, matured, expanded, and elaborated, so that all parties possess more information and become more sophisticated in its use”	Conveying the iterative learning of both the researchers and research participants throughout the research process, and illustrating how this learning contributes to (hermeneutic) knowledge creation
Educative authenticity “The extent to which individual respondents (and the inquirer) possess enhanced understanding of, appreciation for, and tolerance of the constructions of others outside their own stakeholding group”	Accepting, acknowledging and embracing pluralism, multiple perspectives and alternative explanations of the studied phenomenon
Catalytic authenticity “The extent to which action (clarifying the focus at issue, moving to eliminate or ameliorate the problem, and/or sharpening values) is stimulated and facilitated by the inquiry process”	Aligning the study’s ontological, epistemological, methodological and axiomatic approaches to support the study’s purpose and the role of the researcher in the inquiry process
Tactical authenticity “The degree to which participants are empowered to take the action(s) that the inquiry implies or proposes”	Protecting participants’ rights and integrity while creating a safe, trusting environment for sharing insights with the researcher

Source(s): Adapted from Guba (2004)