Title: Provides a concise description of the nature or theme of the study indicating whether it is qualitative research, or indicating design (e.g., ethnography, data-based theory) or method of data collection (e.g., interview, focus group). |
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Summary: summarizes the main elements of the study (problem, objective, design, method, main results and implications). |
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Keywords: includes, on average, five keywords, at least one referring to the design, one describing the type of participants or phenomenon investigated. |
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Introduction: includes description of the subject of study, with critical review of the relevant theoretical and empirical literature, in order to justify the study |
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Method: identifies the qualitative design used in the study (e.g., case study, ethnography). In addition, one can explain the research paradigm that guided the study (e.g., constructivist, feminist) justifying the choice. |
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Participants: indicates the number of participants, documents, or events analyzed. Characterizes participants/documents/events from biosociodemographic, cultural, etc. data. Describing the reason for including/excluding participants. |
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Instruments: describes the instruments used for data collection (e.g., interview scripts, field diary), indicating the origin and possible adaptations, format of the questions (e.g., open or closed) and examples of questions. |
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Data Collection Procedures: provides all the details of data collection, including: start, stop and end dates, participant recruitment process (e.g., compensation, drop-outs or denials, convenience, exhaustion), if pilot study was performed, location, whether third parties were present, recording procedures (e.g., audio, video), iterative process covering specification of who conducted the data collection (academic background, gender, role within the research team, experience and training for research, relationship between the researcher and the participant), whether there were repeated interviews, triangulation, possible modifications of procedures, average duration of data collection, as well as interaction with participants, data archiving procedure, justification for collection completion (e.g., saturation), indicates how saturation was operationalized, transcripts were shared with comments and/or corrections. |
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Ethical procedures: indicates how data were handled and stored to ensure their security and the anonymity of participants. Indicates the relationships and interactions between researchers and participants that are relevant to the process and any impact arising from this relationship (e.g., if there is any pre-research relationship between researcher and researched). It describes compensation and provides assurance of relevant ethical processes in data collection and consent. Indicates whether there have been any methodological changes, their reasons and ethical implications. |
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Data Analysis Procedures: the section presents the entire analysis process in detail. Indicates how many researchers have transcribed and coded data, explicitly training for this. Indicates whether the transcribed data has been checked against the collected (i.e. data integrity). Identifies the units of analysis (e.g., total transcript, texts, units). The paradigm that guided the analysis was presented and its choice justified. It presents a description of the final coding scheme, indicating how the themes/categories were generated inductively or deductively. Where applicable, includes description of the software (e.g., NVivo, Atlas.ti) used for the analysis. Indicates whether results were discussed with participants. Indicates techniques to ensure the credibility and reliability of data analysis (e.g., member checking, auditing, triangulation). |
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Results: excerpts from participants’ statements were used to illustrate themes/categories. Each excerpt was identified (e.g., participant’s fictitious name or number). It presents consistency between excerpts and themes/categories. Describes the main themes/categories, demonstrating the researcher’s understanding of the results. Results that do not fit the core themes/categories and/or non-core themes/categories are presented. Where relevant, diagrams, tables and models are used to illustrate the results. |
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Discussion: The main results are summarized and discussed according to a theory or model and previous research. Discusses the application and transferability of results. Indicates and problematizes the main limitations. Describes key contributions to the area or discipline as well as to public policy and practical application. Suggestions for further studies are presented. |
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