Qualitative methods reporting guide
How to report interview methods in a thesis
A transparent reporting framework for research questions, sampling, interviewer reflexivity, interview procedures, ethics, analysis and evidence—without forcing every qualitative study into one template.
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A credible interview-methods section explains not only what the researcher did, but why those choices can support the interpretation presented in the thesis.
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Practical check
- 01
The interview approach follows from the research question and design
- 02
Sampling, recruitment and stopping decisions are transparent
- 03
Researcher role and participant relationship are addressed
- 04
Interview, recording, transcription and ethics procedures are traceable
- 05
Analysis steps connect raw accounts to reported interpretations
1 / 7
Start with the research question and qualitative design
Explain why interviews are appropriate for the phenomenon being studied and how they fit the stated qualitative approach. A semi-structured interview is a data-collection technique, not a complete methodology; the thesis should identify the broader design and the assumptions guiding interpretation.
Connect each interview topic to the research question. Avoid claiming that an interview can establish prevalence or causal effects when the design is intended to explore experiences, meanings, processes or perspectives.
- The qualitative design is named and justified
- Interview topics map to the research question
- Claims match what interview evidence can support
2 / 7
Describe sampling, recruitment and the stopping decision
State who could participate, how potential participants were identified, who approached them, what exclusions occurred and why the sample was relevant to the research question. Name the sampling strategy rather than describing every non-random sample as purposive without justification.
Report how the final sample size was determined. Saturation is not a universal number or a label to add after data collection; if used, define what kind of saturation was sought, how it was assessed and by whom. Other designs may justify sample size through information power, case boundaries or planned variation.
- Eligibility and recruitment routes are explicit
- Non-participation or attrition is reported when known
- The stopping rationale is defined rather than asserted
3 / 7
Make the interviewer and research relationship visible
Identify who conducted the interviews, relevant training or experience and any prior relationship with participants. These details help readers judge how questions, rapport and interpretation may have been shaped.
Reflexivity is more than a biography. Explain the researcher's position, assumptions and decisions that could influence data generation and analysis, together with the practices used to examine those influences.
- Interviewer role and relevant preparation are stated
- Prior participant relationships are disclosed
- Reflexive practice is linked to concrete research decisions
4 / 7
Report the interview procedure so it can be understood
Describe the interview guide's development, piloting and major domains; setting, mode, language, duration and presence of others; and whether repeat interviews, field notes or participant feedback were used. State whether interviews were audio- or video-recorded and how transcription was produced and checked.
The full question list can be placed in an appendix when useful, but the methods section still needs to explain how questions were ordered, adapted or probed. Software names and recording devices do not substitute for procedural detail.
- Guide development and piloting are explained
- Setting, mode, duration and recording are reported
- Transcription and translation procedures are traceable
5 / 7
Connect consent, confidentiality and data handling
Report ethics approval or the applicable institutional decision, informed-consent procedure and any special risks created by the topic or participant group. Explain how participants could decline questions, stop participation or withdraw data within the stated limits.
Describe pseudonymisation, removal of indirect identifiers, storage access and the handling of audio files and transcripts. Quoted passages can reveal identity even after names are removed, so confidentiality decisions must extend to the final thesis and repository copy.
- Ethics and consent statements reflect the actual study record
- Audio, transcript and identity-key access is defined
- Quotation selection considers indirect identification
6 / 7
Show how analysis produced the reported interpretation
Name the analytic approach and describe the sequence from familiarisation or initial coding to categories, themes, cases or another final representation. Report who coded, how disagreements or alternative readings were handled and how interpretations were checked against the data.
Qualitative software organises material; it does not perform the intellectual analysis by itself. Use quotations or other evidence to support interpretations while preserving context. COREQ offers 32 items for interviews and focus groups, while SRQR provides 21 broader qualitative-reporting items; use them as reporting aids, not as substitutes for methodological coherence.
- The analytic approach and stages are named
- Researcher roles in coding and interpretation are visible
- Claims are supported by contextualised evidence
7 / 7
Choose the reporting guideline that matches the study
Use COREQ when interviews or focus groups are the central data-collection method and the report needs a structured audit of the research team and reflexivity, study design, and analysis and reporting. Use SRQR when a broader qualitative approach needs a flexible standard that can accommodate different paradigms and methods.
Apply either guideline as a gap analysis after the methods account has been drafted. Link every applicable item to evidence in the thesis; when an item does not apply, state the reason instead of inventing a procedure. University, discipline and journal requirements still take precedence.
- The guideline scope matches the study and data-collection design
- Every applicable item points to evidence in the thesis
- Non-applicable items are justified rather than silently omitted
Qualitative methods reporting guide
Frequently asked questions
How many interviews are enough for a thesis?
There is no universal number. The research question, qualitative design, sample diversity, depth of interviews and stated stopping rationale must justify the final sample.
Should interview questions appear in the thesis?
The methods section should explain the guide's development and domains. The full guide can be supplied in an appendix when institutional rules, consent boundaries and confidentiality permit.
Does using qualitative software count as an analysis method?
No. Software can organise, retrieve and document material, but the thesis must still name and explain the analytic approach and interpretive decisions.
Should I use COREQ or SRQR?
Use COREQ for interview- or focus-group-based studies when its detailed domains fit the design. Use SRQR for a broader qualitative reporting audit. They can complement each other, but neither replaces the thesis rules of the university, discipline or target journal.
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Sources and further reading
Sources were selected for direct authority: system documentation, original reporting-guideline papers and the guideline registry. Accessed 9 August 2026.
- 01O'Brien et al. — Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR)
Original 21-item reporting standards paper. DOI: 10.1097/ACM.0000000000000388.
- 02Tong, Sainsbury & Craig — COREQ
Original 32-item checklist for interviews and focus groups. DOI: 10.1093/intqhc/mzm042.
- 03EQUATOR Network — COREQ record
Scope, bibliographic record and access route for the COREQ reporting guideline.