Preregistration
Preregistration in qualitative research involves publicly outlining the purpose, scope, and guiding approach of a study before data collection begins, while recognising that qualitative inquiry often develops iteratively as insights emerge. Rather than fixing hypotheses or analytic steps in advance, preregistration serves as a reflexive record of initial intentions, theoretical framing, sampling strategy, and ethical considerations. Far from reducing the space for creativity and discovery, preregistration helps researchers to think systematically about the theoretical framing of the empirical steps improves creativity and widens opportunities for discovery. For a Delphi study on how preregistration could look like for qualitative research, please see: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1609406920976417.
Researchers can upload their preregistration plans to trusted platforms such as the Open Science Framework (OSF) or AsPredicted, where they are timestamped and may be shared publicly or kept under embargo until publication. Alongside this, researchers are encouraged to share materials such as semi-structured interview schedules or focus group guides. Making these materials available allows others to understand the logic and scope of the inquiry, facilitates secondary analysis, and supports cumulative learning across studies.
Preregistration in qualitative work does not aim to limit interpretive flexibility or responsiveness to participants. Instead, it invites researchers to be explicit about their initial assumptions, methodological decisions, and evolving reflections, fostering integrity, coherence, and accountability throughout the project.
Preregistration is not about imprisoning research. While promoting transparency, it also allows researchers to deviate from their original plans so long as any changes are documented and explained transparently.
As part of open research practices, such transparency, including the sharing of interview materials, is increasingly recognised by journals, funders, and the Research Excellence Framework (REF) as a meaningful way to strengthen the credibility, trustworthiness, and societal value of qualitative research.
No Action (Qual.)
Studies are not preregistered, and there is no formal record of the study’s aims, design, or guiding approach before data collection begins. Research materials such as interview schedules or observation guides are not shared or documented for transparency.
Moving from No Action to Emerging in Preregistration (Qual.)
- Understand what preregistration means for qualitative research. Read about how preregistration can be used to record your study’s purpose, design, and ethical approach before data collection begins (see these webinars 1, 2 and other resources: CRAN, paper, community guide), & https://www.cos.io/initiatives/prereg. The aim is transparency, not restriction.
- Start with a simple, reflective plan. Use templates from the Open Science Framework (OSF) or AsPredicted to outline your research questions, theoretical orientation, sampling strategy, and planned methods of data collection and analysis.
- Include your research materials. Upload resources such as semi-structured interview schedules or focus group guides, where appropriate. Sharing these materials helps others understand your study design and supports cumulative learning across projects.
- Explain your flexibility. Use your preregistration to describe which aspects of your study are open to change as insights emerge. This clarifies your reflexive process and distinguishes between initial plans and subsequent adaptations.
- Share your preregistration link. When you publish or present your work, include a link to your preregistration so others can see how your study developed. You can keep sensitive details under embargo until publication if needed(see example wording).
Emerging (Qual.)
Some studies are preregistered, usually in response to journal or funder requirements, but preregistrations tend to focus on procedural aspects rather than interpretive or analytic decisions, and are inconsistently applied.
Moving from Emerging to Evolving in Preregistration (Qual.)
- To move from Emerging to Evolving, preregistration is regularly used to record the study’s purpose, design, reflexivity and ethical approach, outlining anticipated analytic or interpretive strategies while recognising the iterative nature of qualitative inquiry. Any departures from the preregistered plan are transparently documented and explained.
- Use detailed preregistration templates designed for qualitative studies, such as the OSF Qualitative Preregistration Template or the Tilburg University guide to preregistration, to document your study’s purpose, epistemological stance, sampling strategy, and analytic approach.
- Clearly distinguish between planned and emergent elements of your design and note which aspects may evolve through reflexive engagement with participants or data (see Haven & Van Grootel, 2019).
- Reflect on and update preregistrations as your qualitative work unfolds, logging changes transparently using the OSF update guide.
- Embed preregistration within your research culture by making it standard practice in your group or lab, and mentor others using free open-science training materials such as the Center for Open Science’s Education Curriculum.
- Showcase your preregistrations by linking them in publications, presentations, your ORCID profile, CVs, and grant applications to signal your commitment to transparent and reflexive research.
Evolving (Qual.)
Preregistration is regularly used to document the study’s purpose, design, and ethical approach. Registrations outline anticipated analytic or interpretive strategies while allowing for reflexive adaptation, and any changes are transparently recorded in a public registry.
Moving from Evolving to Sustained in Preregistration (Qual.)
- To move from Evolving to Sustained in preregistration, embed preregistration as a consistent part of your qualitative research workflow and begin shaping a culture of open and reflexive inquiry within your community.
- Use comprehensive preregistration templates that help you document your study’s aims, epistemological stance, sampling rationale, analytic approach, and reflexive commitments. Suitable resources include the OSF Qualitative Preregistration Template and guidance in the COS blog on Qualitative Preregistration.
- Justify and document your qualitative design choices clearly, including participant selection, data collection methods, and analytic strategy. Describe how you will manage interpretive flexibility, researcher reflexivity, and any changes that emerge through engagement with participants or data.
- Broaden your preregistration practice to include complex or multi-phase designs such as longitudinal, participatory, or mixed-methods studies. Use adaptable preregistration formats like the OSF Open-Ended Registration to accommodate evolving qualitative processes.
- Mentor and support others in your team or network to preregister their qualitative work. Share your own preregistration examples, lead reflective discussions or workshops, and use free materials such as the Center for Open Science Training Curriculum to build confidence and skills.
- Normalise preregistration and transparency within your research community. Encourage collaborators, supervisees, and peers to make preregistration routine practice, and model openness by linking your preregistrations in publications, presentations, your ORCID profile, CV, and grant applications.
Sustained (Qual.)
Preregistration is embedded in your qualitative research practice and applied consistently across projects. You use preregistration to enhance reflexivity and transparency, adapting templates to fit diverse interpretive and participatory designs. You mentor others in documenting analytic and ethical decisions openly, contribute to developing qualitative preregistration standards, and advocate for recognition of transparent qualitative research within your field.
Guidance for Sustained Level in Preregistration (Qual.)
Congratulations on reaching this level of practice. Preregistration and data management are now integral to your qualitative research philosophy and practice. You consistently embed transparency and reflexivity across projects, and you contribute to shaping the broader culture of open qualitative inquiry through mentorship, scholarship, and advocacy. To maintain and further improve at this level, consider the following:
- Advance qualitative preregistration practices by co-developing or refining templates, publishing methodological reflections, or contributing to community discussions on transparency and reflexivity in qualitative research (e.g., publish in journals with high visibility).
- Apply preregistration across diverse projects, including multi-site, interdisciplinary, or mixed-methods studies, while maintaining alignment with interpretive and context-sensitive approaches.
- Model transparent data management, balancing openness with ethical care. Share materials such as coding frameworks, reflexive memos, and analytic logs in repositories like the Open Science Framework or Zenodo, ensuring sensitive data are protected and consented.
- Mentor and train others by leading workshops, writing guides, or contributing to open research curricula (for instance, using the Center for Open Science training resources or UKRN programmes)
- Advocate for structural change by encouraging journals, funders, and institutions to formally recognise and reward open and preregistered qualitative research.
- Enhance visibility and impact by adding metadata through DataCite, or tracking engagement via OpenAIRE, and showcasing your preregistrations in talks, CVs, and grant applications.
