Which criterion documents the chain of evidence from data to conclusions?

Which criterion documents the chain of evidence from data to conclusions?

• A. Thick description
• B. Triangulation
• C. Reflexivity
• D. Audit trail

Answer: (D)

Documenting the path from data to conclusions is achieved with an audit trail. An audit trail provides a transparent, traceable record of every step in the research process: data collection, data management, analytic decisions, coding schemes, memos, and the rationale for how the data led to specific conclusions. This lets someone else follow the exact sequence from raw data to interpretation, which strengthens the trustworthiness and confirmability of the study. Thick description focuses on richly describing context, which helps interpretation but doesn’t inherently show how conclusions were derived. Triangulation uses multiple data sources or methods to support findings, but it isn’t about recording the step-by-step reasoning from data to conclusions. Reflexivity centers on the researcher’s awareness of their influence on the research, not on documenting the evidentiary trail.

Documenting the path from data to conclusions is achieved with an audit trail. An audit trail provides a transparent, traceable record of every step in the research process: data collection, data management, analytic decisions, coding schemes, memos, and the rationale for how the data led to specific conclusions. This lets someone else follow the exact sequence from raw data to interpretation, which strengthens the trustworthiness and confirmability of the study.

Thick description focuses on richly describing context, which helps interpretation but doesn’t inherently show how conclusions were derived. Triangulation uses multiple data sources or methods to support findings, but it isn’t about recording the step-by-step reasoning from data to conclusions. Reflexivity centers on the researcher’s awareness of their influence on the research, not on documenting the evidentiary trail.