Extending rigor and relevance: Towards credible, contributory and communicable research

Abstract

There are many ways to discuss research quality. This paper aims at presenting an actionable framework for research quality, which can be used as guiding principles for identifying important dimensions when evaluating research. The framework takes its starting point in prior suggestions that research should be rigorous, relevant and consumable. When examining the rigor aspect it is argued that this is a means rather than an end. By being rigorous, research strives to be credible. This also calls for consistency and transparency. Similarly, it is argued that relevance is a means for research to be contributory. To be contributory research also has to be original and generalizable. Research has to be consumable in order to be communicable, but to become a consumed piece of research it must also be accessible. Starting out with the agenda of discussing research being rigorous, relevant and consumable, the paper instead ends up with a call for research being credible, contributory and communicable. By using the dimensions presented in the paper, researchers may increase the quality of research efforts both in research design, as well as research execution and research presentation.