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Table 2 Coding scheme

From: Methodological and ethical issues in research using social media: a metamethod of Human Papillomavirus vaccine studies

Article author/title

Guiding questions

Country

 

Research question

1. Is the research question/problem clearly stated?

2. Is the research question meaningful, significant, and worthy of investigation?

Study aim/purpose

3. Is the study aim/purpose clearly stated?

4. Does the literature review provide sufficient context and background to justify the study?

5. Are the concepts central to the research question clearly defined?

Design type

6. Is the methodological approach clearly stated?

7. What methodology guides the design?

8. Are the methodological assumptions underpinning the study clearly stated?

9. Is there a fit between the methodological approach and the research question?

Data source

10. What is the data source?

11. Is the data source appropriate for the research question?

Method

12. Is the data collection method clearly described?

13. Is the data collection method appropriate for the research question?

14. Is the sample size clearly stated?

15. Is recruitment clearly described?

16. Is the data collection method consistent with the methodological approach?

Data analysis

17. Is the approach to data analysis clearly stated?

18. Is the method of data analysis consistent with the methodological approach?

Rigor

19. Evidence of credibility/internal validity: e.g., member checking; triangulation; prolonged engagement

20. Evidence of transferability/external validity: e.g., robust description of setting, participants, content and findings

21. Evidence of dependability/reliability: audit trail describing researcher(s) data, methods, analysis and decision-making

22. Evidence of confirmability/objectivity: clearly stated epistemic stance including researcher assumptions, reflectivity and audit trail

Findings

23. Are the findings clearly stated?

24. Is the interpretation of the findings well supported by the literature?

25. Are the findings/conclusions clearly linked to the data?

Ethical issues

26. Does the study follow principles of ethical research?

27. Did the study receive ethics approval?

Overall

28. Is the research design sound?