Work

Which Quotations to Use? Guidance on Selecting and Reporting Quotations in Qualitative Research

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Quotations serve multiple purposes in qualitative research, such as supporting claims, illustrating findings, explaining, impressing, and offering readers vicarious experiences. Despite their widespread use, there is limited guidance on how to select and report quotations, leading to potential issues of "cherry-picking" quotes that may not accurately represent the findings. This study aimed to fill this gap by establishing guiding principles for qualitative researchers. Through an in-depth synthesis of literature focusing on papers that have discussed standards and guidelines for selecting and reporting quotations (n=14), we identified five considerations for the use of quotations: functional/instrumental, practical, ethical, aesthetic, and inclusive considerations. Additionally, based on a systematic review of health qualitative research papers on a narrowly defined research topic (n=13), we examined current practices in selecting and reporting quotations in health qualitative research to derive practical insights for qualitative health researchers.

Source: International Journal of Qualitative Methods

DOI: 10.1177/16094069251353449

Authors: Sarah Yeo, Seungheon Han

Institutions: University of Arizona Cancer Center, The Korea Institute of Public Administration

Language: English

Topic: Qualitative Research Methods and Applications

Subfield: Education

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,650

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute