Qualitative studies in contrast to quantitative studies, analyze words and text instead of numbers and figures. Qualitative research is exploratory and non-experimental. It seeks to explore meaning, experiences and phenomena among study participants. Qualitative data is collected from participants' stories, open-ended responses, and viewpoints collected from focus groups, interviews, observations or detailed records (Schmidt & Brown, 2019, pp. 221-224).
Each JBI Checklist provides tips and guidance on what to look for to answer each question. These tips begin on page 4.
Below are some additional Frequently Asked Questions about the Qualitative Research Checklist that have been asked students in previous semesters.
| Frequently Asked Question | Response |
| Nearly every question asks about "congruity." What exactly does this mean in terms of qualitative research, and what should I be looking for? | In a qualitative study, it is important that all elements of the study - the objectives, methods, theoretical/conceptual framework, qualitative data gathering - all fit together in agreement and that they make sense. Please see page 4 of the JBI Qualitative Checklist for explanatory notes for each question, which elaborate on this concept further. |
| For Question 6, where can I find a statement in my article about the researcher's cultural or theoretical orientation? | Sometimes, authors of a qualitative study will provide details about their own cultural or theoretical background. Look for this information in the beginning of the study or in the methods section. |
For more help: Each JBI Checklist provides detailed guidance on what to look for to answer each question on the checklist. These explanatory notes begin on page four of each Checklist. Please review these carefully as you conduct critical appraisal using JBI tools.
Danford, C. A. (2023). Understanding the evidence: Qualitative research designs. Urologic Nursing, 43(1), 41–45. https://doi.org/10.7257/2168-4626.2023.43.1.41
Doyle, L., McCabe, C., Keogh, B., Brady, A., & McCann, M. (2020). An overview of the qualitative descriptive design within nursing research. Journal of Research in Nursing, 25(5), 443–455. https://doi.org/10.1177/1744987119880234
Luciani, M., Jack, S. M., Campbell, K., Orr, E., Durepos, P., Li, L., Strachan, P., & Di Mauro, S. (2019). An introduction to qualitative health research. Professioni infermieristiche, 72(1), 60–68.
Qualitative Research in Health Care