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4.7.3 Adding Rigour to the Documentary Analysis Tool
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Chapter 4 Research Method
A random sample of 10 sets of documentation were analysed by another researcher
in order to ensure consistency and thus contribute to the reliability of the findings.
Table 4.1 outlines the criteria used to recruit the second researcher for this process:
Table 4.1: Criteria for the second researcher for the documentary audit tool
consistency check
Criteria Rationale
Must be a registered nurse. Will understand the nursing process
(assessing, planning, implementing,
documenting, evaluating) and An Bord
Altranais requirements for
documentation.
Must have knowledge of older people’s Will understand the context, e.g.
services.
Must have understanding of the culture
and climate of residential care for older
people.
May be employed in nurse education or
practice development.
Must have previous experience of
conducting research or assisting in a
research project.
residential standards.
Will recognise that approaches to
residential care are different from acute
care.
Will be familiar with all of the above.
In order to appreciate and understand the
importance of rigorous, systematic
approaches.
The analysis of the sample of 10 sets of documentation by two researchers ensured
that the tool could be applied consistently and reliably. The tool was amended when
any of the criteria had been interpreted differently. There was 95% consistency
between the researchers. The two researchers found that “ethos of maintaining
dignity” was not always possible to examine fully in documentation and this
accounted for the lack of consistency in auditing 5% of the documentation. It was
agreed that this could be further explored during the observations.
4.7.4 Staff Rosters
Copies of staff rosters were collected over a four-month period. The interviews were
conducted over a three-month period with an additional month (four months’ data
collection in total) for recruitment, and it was during this time that staff rosters were
collected. Hence the staff rosters were collected simultaneous to the interviews. Daily
allocation sheets from the duty roster were photocopied and these displayed how
many staff were on duty, whether or not anyone was on sick leave, and whether or not