What does this research mean for the field?

The qualitative research evaluation criteria of dependability, credibility, transferability, and confirmability can be adapted to effectively assess and improve the rigor of literature review articles. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.METHODOLOGICAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To adapt qualitative research trustworthiness criteria into an evaluation framework that assesses and improves the methodological rigor of literature review articles.

September 2, 2026Journal of Business LogisticsOpen Access

Pulling Back the Curtain: Using Dependability, Credibility, Transferability, and Confirmability as Evaluation Criteria for Literature Reviews

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Authors

CCChristopher W. CraigheadKnoxville College JDJessica L. DarbyAuburn University DKDavid J. KetchenFlorida State University

Discussion

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Implication

Methodological analysis demonstrates qualitative rigor criteria for literature reviews, highlighting improved transparency and evaluation standards.

Key Points

To adapt qualitative research trustworthiness criteria into an evaluation framework that assesses and improves the methodological rigor of literature review articles.
Adapted four core qualitative research standards—dependability, credibility, transferability, and confirmability—to the literature review process.
Analyzed published exemplar articles from the 2026 Special Topic Forum to demonstrate the practical application of each evaluation criterion.
Mapped qualitative evaluation criteria directly to traditional empirical standards: dependability to reliability, credibility to internal validity, transferability to external validity, and confirmability to objectivity.
Established an operational framework that allows readers, authors, and reviewers to evaluate the unobservable analytical steps within literature synthesis.

Cite This Study

Craighead et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a97e2eac562ede874ec74ef https://doi.org/10.1111/jbl.70094

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Implication

Methodological analysis demonstrates qualitative rigor criteria for literature reviews, highlighting improved transparency and evaluation standards.

Pulling Back the Curtain: Using Dependability, Credibility, Transferability, and Confirmability as Evaluation Criteria for Literature Reviews

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Pulling Back the Curtain: Using Dependability, Credibility, Transferability, and Confirmability as Evaluation Criteria for Literature Reviews

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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Also Consider