Is truth important in research? Unpacking half-truths and misrepresentations in the process

Exploring “truth” in qualitative research can be a hidden expectation—that participants’ accounts are coherent and verifiable. Yet narratives often reveal contradictions, inconsistencies, or even deliberate misrepresentations, challenging researchers’ assumptions. Interviews are not neutral spaces; participants exercise agency in shaping the stories they share. From a constructivist perspective, the focus shifts from uncovering “truth” to engaging with layered, partial, and sometimes conflicting narratives. These complexities enrich understanding and challenge simplified representations of marginalised lives.