Abstract
Rigour has always been an integral part of qualitative studies. The effective employment of credibility, transferability, dependability, confirmability and authenticity indicate to consumers of qualitative research the degree of quality and trustworthiness of the study, which, in turn, allows for bias to be minimised. Despite its theoretical relevance, there remains limited understanding of the various criteria and tactics to ensure data quality and integrity in qualitative business studies. This systematic review aims to identify, categorise and analyse the rigour criteria currently employed in qualitative business research to determine dominant trends and existing gaps. To address this research–practice gap, the current study categorised tactics and strategies according to Lincoln and Guba’s rigour criteria through an extensive examination of the criteria and tactics that researchers have used in qualitative studies. Insights were mined from a comprehensive review of 52 articles published in the South African Journal of Industrial Psychology and the South African Journal of Human Resource Management between January 2022 and June 2024. From these articles, rich data on rigour considerations were examined. The findings demonstrate diverse and evolving application of rigour in qualitative business studies. While researchers maintain Lincoln and Guba as their main frame of reference for applying rigour, they also modify and misclassify tactics. They also show how authenticity remains largely divorced from applications of rigour. The study contributes to existing literature on how scholars may ensure trustworthiness in their research for improved quality reporting.