Reflecting on Reporting Guidelines in Qualitative Inquiry

Advocating for Openness or Methodological Specificity in Constructivist Grounded Theory

Bibliographic Data

ID15736583
AuthorsPaul Bobbink (0000-0001-6407-455X, HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, corresponding author), Philip Larkin (0000-0001-8424-3920, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University Institute of Higher Education and Research in Healthcare, University of Lausanne, Switzerland), P J Larkin (0000-0002-2608-1924, Hôpital Nestlé), Sebastian Probst (0009-0006-2642-9915, HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland)
Year2026
Volume13
Pages23333936251413205-23333936251413205
Publication date2026-01-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueGlobal Qualitative Nursing Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2333-3936 • E-ISSN: 2333-3936
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/23333936251413205
PMID41551062
OpenAlexW7124651164
LanguageEN
References cited19

This manuscript provides critical reflections on using reporting guidelines in qualitative research and examines the tensions that arise when universal checklists are applied across diverse methodological traditions. While transparency and rigor are essential, our manuscript supports that widely adopted tools such as COREQ-32 insufficiently capture the epistemological and procedural features of certain methodologies, particularly Constructivist Grounded Theory. Drawing on existing critiques and emerging methodology-specific frameworks, we argue that rigid, sometimes unvalidated criteria could impede methodological congruence and provide limitations to report Constructivist Grounded Theory research. This reflection contributes to methodological scholarship by advocating for reporting guidance that aligns with the philosophical and methodological stance of each qualitative approach. Therefore, we call for nuanced, method-congruent standards that enhance transparency while preserving the richness, reflexivity, and flexibility that underpin excellence in qualitative inquiry

Constructivism (international relations · Critical reflection · Excellence · Flexibility (engineering · Grounded theory · Openness to experience · Qualitative research · Rigour · Scholarship · Transparency (behavior · Health Policy Implementation Science · Qualitative Research Methods and Applications · Qualitative Research Methods and Ethics

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access