The Importance of Analytic Integrity and Reporting Guidelines in Reporting Qualitative Research

Abstract

The journey to publication can be arduous, requiring considerable time, effort and resources. Researchers face numerous challenges, right from initially conceptualising a research idea, forming the research team, securing ethical approvals, recruiting participants, collecting data, analysing findings and making recommendations. Ultimately, these efforts culminate in preparing a manuscript that must meet the standards of reputable and rigorous academic journals to share study findings with the broader nursing and health community. Transparent and ethical reporting plays a crucial role not only in ensuring transparency but also in saving time for both authors and reviewers. Well-structured and complete manuscripts help streamline the review process by minimising the need for revisions related to organisation, clarity and missing information, enhancing transparency and hopefully reducing the time in peer review.

However, it has been noted that many qualitative manuscripts are rejected before peer review due to poor reporting associated with analytical deficiencies (Jackson and Bradbury-Jones 2020). In some cases, authors who have claimed to have conducted multistage thematic analyses have only performed basic clustering and coding, producing findings that lack depth and are methodologically compromised due to poor quality analyses (Jackson and Bradbury-Jones 2020). Rigorous analysis, combined with transparent reporting, is essential for meaningful interpretation and practical application of research findings, ultimately increasing the impact of qualitative research in addressing complex questions.

Receiving a desk rejection after investing so much time and effort can be disheartening, especially when the rejection results from analytical deficiency rather than a lack of originality or relevance. Beyond the frustration for researchers, it can feel like a failure to honour the stories and experiences of participants who contributed to the study. Proper and complete analysis of qualitative data is not only an ethical responsibility but also critical for ensuring that research findings can make a valuable contribution to knowledge. Some useful tools can assist researchers in conducting and reporting their research, and using these can help ensure that manuscripts have a higher chance of successfully getting into peer review.

In this editorial, we will discuss the importance of analytic integrity and the role of reporting guidelines in enhancing manuscript preparation.

Analytic integrity in qualitative research is essential for producing rigorous and meaningful findings. Thorough qualitative analysis extends beyond simple coding and data clustering, requiring a thorough, iterative process that carefully considers the context, nuances and depth of participants' experiences. It is essential to remember that when undertaking specific types of analyses, following all of the steps is essential to ensure a complete and accurate process rather than just undertaking some of the steps. Rigorous analysis involves continually refining interpretations, questioning assumptions and ensuring patterns are not forced but developed authentically from the data. Proper and complete analysis integrates theoretical frameworks and maintains a transparent chain of evidence, allowing for a deeper understanding of the phenomena under study. By committing to comprehensive analysis, researchers are enabled to generate findings that are more robust, insightful and applicable, ultimately enhancing the credibility and impact of their research.

Many journals, including the Journal of Advanced Nursing, require that all submitted manuscripts use an appropriate reporting guideline where one exists. The Enhancing the QUAlity and Transparency Of health Research (U.K. EQUATOR Centre Inc. 2024) network provides comprehensive reporting guidelines essential for ensuring the clarity, accuracy, transparency and completeness of research publications. These guidelines are relevant to all researchers seeking to report their findings but perhaps particularly relevant for qualitative researchers, where the complexity of data and analysis requires meticulous reporting to facilitate understanding, replication and assessment by other researchers and end-users. The two primary guidelines used in qualitative research are the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) and the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR).

High quality analytical processes and clear, well-structured reporting reduces the risk of desk rejection and saves time for both authors and reviewers. Presenting research findings transparently and ethically using reporting guidelines ensures all the information needed is in the manuscript. This reduces the need for revisions related to missing information, organisation or clarity, maximising the investment of effort from both parties, streamlining the review process and increasing the likelihood of acceptance.

Using reporting guidelines in qualitative research ensures transparency and consistency. It helps researchers provide a clear, comprehensive account of their study's methodology and findings, enhances the credibility and replicability of the research and makes it easier for readers to evaluate the quality, rigour and utility of the work.

Reporting guidelines help to ensure integrity, transparency and rigour in every step of the research publication process. By following the guidelines we have reviewed, researchers safeguard the credibility of their work and make their findings more actionable and applicable. For researchers aiming to make a real-world impact, embracing and following COREQ and SRQR reporting guidelines not only boosts their work's credibility but also helps to limit publication delays. This approach enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of the entire research journey, delivering valuable insights to the field both efficiently and reliably.

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.