Eight recommendations to improve the reporting of qualitative social research in urban nature studies

Abstract

Researchers studying urban nature should engage with qualitative social methods (QSM) because cities are full of people and what they think and feel matters. QSM are associated with a social science research approach that focuses on understanding how people think and behave by collaborating with participants in the generation of knowledge and including these participants - who may otherwise be excluded - in the research process. QSM are based on descriptive, exploratory, and explanatory research procedures that usually involve participant-centred, constructive, subjective, negotiated, and interpretative research techniques. QSM can provide insights about how urban nature influences humans, and, in turn, how humans influence urban nature. The use of QSM is becoming more common in urban nature research. However, there are recurring shortcomings in reporting. Many researchers do not report enough methodological details for a reader to understand what was done, how it was done, and why, as well as the context of the findings. This article is written to encourage QSM researchers to improve their reporting. The article is based on a list of common issues in urban nature research based on QSM emanating from the author’ s experiences using QSM, reviewing QSM studies, and analysing the empirical literature. Eight recommendations for improving QSM reporting are made, including: 1) articulating the “why” of the qualitative approach; 2) describing the data analysis procedures and techniques in more detail; 3) reporting the coding framework; 4) reporting results as insights extracted from data instead of describing the data; 5) describing participant recruitment and data collection strategies; 6) describing the participants; 7) including the questions of the research; and 8) collaborating with QSM researchers. Researchers working at the intersection of humans and nature in cities frequently cross disciplinary and methodological boundaries. Crossing these boundaries is essential for enriching urban nature research. When reporting the findings of research activities that involve QSM, researchers should consider these eight recommendations and describe what they did, how they did it, and why the did it, with more clarity and intention.