Constructing Research Quality: On the Performativity of the COREQ Checklist

Area of Science:

• Qualitative Health Research
• Research Methodology
• Academic Publishing

Background:

• The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) is widely used to enhance reporting quality in qualitative studies.
• Despite its endorsement, COREQ faces criticism regarding its design and application in qualitative health research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically analyze the impact of the COREQ checklist on the reporting of qualitative research.
• To examine how checklist adherence influences the perceived and actual quality of qualitative research.

Main Methods:

• Detailed critical text analysis of eight research articles and their COREQ self-reported responses.
• Examination of authors' rhetorical strategies in articles and checklist submissions.

Main Results:

• Authors sometimes provide misleading or excessive information, prioritizing checklist completion over substantive quality.
• COREQ's rigid structure can lead to overcompliance and inappropriate responses, even when criteria are irrelevant.
• This "overobedience" undermines research depth and rigor, despite intentions to enhance credibility.

Conclusions:

• The COREQ checklist, while aiming for standardization, can paradoxically erode authenticity and critical reflection in qualitative research.
• It functions as an epistemic device, shaping researcher practices and potentially exacerbating reporting issues.
• COREQ's performative force on research quality appearance may undermine genuine accountability and rigor.