Preregistering qualitative research

Figures & data

Table 1. The preregistration format of the OSF with headings, subheadings (column 1 and 2), and suggestions/extensions (column 3). If printed in Bold, we suggest a new subheading. If printed in strikethrough, we consider that section or subsection irrelevant when preregistering qualitative research. Italics regard suggestions/examples.

OSF heading	Subsections	Possible modifications/extensions
Study information
	Title
	Authorship
	Research aim	Please specify the overall aim of the research.
	Research questions	Research questions (subject to modifications at n moments). Typical changes in exact phrasing of research questions may occur during the process; after the first instance(s) of data collection, etc.
	Hypotheses	Theoretical expectations If you have any expectations (at the start of the study), please write them here.
	Use of literature	Please specify the role of theory in your research design. Elaborate on how you used literature to formulate your research question and how you expect the theory to guide your data collection and data analysis (for example elaborate on your sensitizing concepts).
	Use of literature rationale	Please elaborate if your research is conducted from a certain theoretical perspective.
Design Plan
	Tradition	Please specify the type of tradition you work in: - grounded theory - phenomenology - narrative approach - ethnography - text-based approach (discourse analysis, conversation analysis) - generic - other
	Study type	Specify your study type (select multiple if appropriate): - case study - evaluation research - intervention research - participatory research - other
	Blinding (optional)	If you indicated participatory research, please elaborate on whether participation is overt or covert.
	Study design (describe)	Explain your study design freely (max. 500 words).
	Randomization (optional)
Sampling plan
	Existing data/non-existing data (choose)	Please choose existing/non-existing
	Explanation of existing data (optional)	Please explain if existing data was collected by current research or other research team and what the initial aim was during collection of the existing data.
	Data collection procedures	Please indicate the data collection procedure(s) you will use (select multiple if appropriate): - interviews (please select the most appropriate description: open interviews, semi-structured interviews, structured interviews) - enabling/elicitation techniques - self-reports (diaries etc.) - observational methods - focus groups - existing (internet) data - other
	Data collection plan	Please describe your data collection plan freely. Be as explicit as possible. For example, if you plan to use elicitation techniques in your interviews or you will make your focus group participants rank certain categories, describe this here.
	Type of data collected	Please select the type(s) of data you will collect: - Text (spoken/written), - Visuals (photos/videos/other) - Other
	Sample size
	Sample size rationale	How many interviews/observations/focus groups do you expect to conduct? (Fill in number)
	Type of sampling rationale	Please indicate the type of sampling you will rely on: - purposive - theoretical - convenience - snowball - random
	Sort of sample	Please indicate why you choose this particular type of sampling.
	Stopping rule	Please pick the ideal composition of your sample: - heterogenous - homogenous - extreme or deviant cases - typical cases
Variables	Manipulated variables	Please indicate what will determine to stop data collection: - saturation - planning (limited time for project) - resources (e.g. money) - other
Script (Optional)	Data collection scripts (Required)	Please upload your topic guide, observation script, focus group script, etc. (subject to modifications at n moments). Typical changes in exact script may occur at start of the study, after the first instance(s) of data collection, etc.
Analysis Plan
	Statistical models
	Transformations (optional) Data analyses	Please specify what type of analysis are you planning on conducting: - narrative analysis - interpretative phenomenological analysis - line-by-line coding - thematic analysis - other
	Follow-up analyses
	Inference criteria
	Data exclusion
	Missing data
	Exploratory analysis (optional)
Other	Other