A Pilot Study on Generative Artificial Intelligence's Reliability in Qualitative Research Quality Appraisal Using CASP and JBI Checklists.

Generative artificial intelligence (genAI) tools are transforming workflows, with growing interest in their potential applications in qualitative research. While the use of genAI in facilitating the systematic review process has been explored, its application in the quality appraisal of qualitative...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:Inquiry (00469580) Vol. 62; pp. 1 - 10
Autores principales: Shereefdeen, Hisba, Thaivalappil, Abhinand, Young, Ian, MacKay, Melissa
Formato: research tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: Sage Publications Inc. 11/29/2025
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
fields @attributes:
  recordID: 1
pdfLink:
plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=189855744&site=ehost-live
header:
  @attributes:
    shortDbName: ccm
    uiTerm: 189855744
    longDbName: CINAHL Complete
    uiTag: AN
  controlInfo:
    bkinfo:
    dissinfo:
    jinfo:
      jid:
        00469580
        INQ
      jtl: Inquiry (00469580)
      issn: 00469580
      maglogo: Y
    pubinfo:
      dt: 11/29/2025
      vid: 62
      pid: 344
      pub: Sage Publications Inc.
      place: Thousand Oaks, California
    artinfo:
      ui:
        189855744
        189855744
        189855744
        10.1177/00469580251399374
        189855744
      ppf: 1
      ppct: 9
      formats:
        fmt:
          – @attributes:
              type: T
          – @attributes:
              type: P
      tig:
        atl: A Pilot Study on Generative Artificial Intelligence's Reliability in Qualitative Research Quality Appraisal Using CASP and JBI Checklists.
      aug:
        au:
          Shereefdeen, Hisba
          Thaivalappil, Abhinand
          Young, Ian
          MacKay, Melissa
        affil: University of Guelph, ON, Canada
      sug:
        subj:
          Artificial Intelligence, Generative
          Qualitative Studies
          Checklists Utilization
          Quality Assessment
          Reproducibility of Results
          Human
          Male
          Female
          Pilot Studies
          Consensus
          Computer-Assisted Instruction
          Interrater Reliability
          Professional Practice, Evidence-Based
          Study Design
          Research Ethics
          Bias (Research)
          Judgment
          Voice
          User-Computer Interface
          Male
          Female
      ab: Generative artificial intelligence (genAI) tools are transforming workflows, with growing interest in their potential applications in qualitative research. While the use of genAI in facilitating the systematic review process has been explored, its application in the quality appraisal of qualitative research remains to be understood. This pilot study aims to evaluate the degree to which ChatGPT appraises qualitative research using popular appraisal tools compared to human assessments. Two reviewers applied the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) and Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklists for qualitative research to studies identified through a previously published review (n = 21). Next, iteratively developed prompts along with a copy of each study were uploaded to ChatGPT to instruct it to appraise each article. Interrater reliability measures and crude agreements were conducted to estimate the level of agreement between human and genAI assessments. Interrater reliability assessments between human and ChatGPT (GPT-5) revealed no agreement to moderate agreement for CASP checklist items (kappa: <.00-.46; crude agreement: 23.8%-100%) and from none to substantial for JBI items (kappa: <.00-.83; crude agreement: 4.8%-95.2%). Agreement was highest for reporting-based elements such as study aims, ethics approval, value of research (CASP), and participant voices and conclusions (JBI). Disagreements were greatest for interpretive and context-dependent items such as research design, researcher–participant relationships, and worldview–methodology congruity. Findings demonstrate that ChatGPT (GPT-5) can reliably identify objective components yet performs inconsistently when assessing items requiring nuance and contextual understanding across both checklists. Currently, any adoption of genAI for quality appraisal of qualitative research must be carefully applied only alongside human assessments and uphold principles of transparency and data privacy.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
    refInfo:
    holdings:
      @attributes:
        islocal: N