Research Article

The Use of Financial Incentives in Qualitative Research across Disciplines in the United States: A Methodological Review from 1995 to 2021/ Amerika Birleşik Devletleri’nde Disiplinler Arası Nitel Araştırmalarda Finansal Teşvik Kullanımı: 1995–2021 Yılları Arasında Yöntemsel Bir Derleme

Volume: 7 Number: 2 December 27, 2025
EN TR

The Use of Financial Incentives in Qualitative Research across Disciplines in the United States: A Methodological Review from 1995 to 2021/ Amerika Birleşik Devletleri’nde Disiplinler Arası Nitel Araştırmalarda Finansal Teşvik Kullanımı: 1995–2021 Yılları Arasında Yöntemsel Bir Derleme

Abstract

Offering financial incentives to participants for their participation in qualitative research is a common practice that improves recruitment in a study. However, the state of incentive use in qualitative research across fields is unknown. This methodological review aimed to examine the state of incentive use in qualitative research across fields in the context of the United States. Using descriptive statistics and negative binomial regression, we examined 698 cases of incentives for 627 unique full-text empirical qualitative research articles and determined the influencing factors for the amounts of incentives used in qualitative research studies. The results showed that publication year, field of research, and sample size function as influencing factors in the amount of incentives offered in qualitative studies. Of the 698 cases identified through the systematic search, incentive amounts (US Dollar) varied from minimum $5.00 to maximum $500.00 with mean of $31.7 (SD=32.1). The incentive amounts (US Dollar) with the inflation rate varied from $5.00 to maximum $565.00 with a mean of $36.6 (SD=37.4). Our study suggests that incentives in qualitative research are shaped by disciplinary and methodological contexts, and our review provides practical implications to guide researchers’ decisions. This study ignites a deeper dialogue about the use of incentives in qualitative research and reporting practices to assist researchers in enhancing the effectiveness of using incentives within their respective fields.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

N/A

Ethical Statement

N/A

Thanks

We appreciate Melissa Previtera’s help and assistance with the identification and search of the database./ Veritabanının ve arama kriterlerinin belirlenmesinde yardımı ve desteği için Melissa Previtera’ya teşekkür ederiz.

References

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  4. Bourgeault, I. L., Dingwall, R., & De Vries, R. G. (2010). The SAGE handbook of qualitative methods in health research. Sage.
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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Sociological Methodology and Research Methods

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

December 27, 2025

Submission Date

July 15, 2025

Acceptance Date

September 16, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 7 Number: 2

APA
Toraman Turk, S., Meneses, J., Turk, M., Fàbregues, S., Dudu, S., Ozkan, F., & Ustun-Elayan, B. (2025). The Use of Financial Incentives in Qualitative Research across Disciplines in the United States: A Methodological Review from 1995 to 2021/ Amerika Birleşik Devletleri’nde Disiplinler Arası Nitel Araştırmalarda Finansal Teşvik Kullanımı: 1995–2021 Yılları Arasında Yöntemsel Bir Derleme. Nitel Sosyal Bilimler, 7(2), 107-127. https://doi.org/10.47105/nsb.1742647
AMA
1.Toraman Turk S, Meneses J, Turk M, et al. The Use of Financial Incentives in Qualitative Research across Disciplines in the United States: A Methodological Review from 1995 to 2021/ Amerika Birleşik Devletleri’nde Disiplinler Arası Nitel Araştırmalarda Finansal Teşvik Kullanımı: 1995–2021 Yılları Arasında Yöntemsel Bir Derleme. QSS. 2025;7(2):107-127. doi:10.47105/nsb.1742647
Chicago
Toraman Turk, Sinem, Julio Meneses, Murat Turk, et al. 2025. “The Use of Financial Incentives in Qualitative Research across Disciplines in the United States: A Methodological Review from 1995 to 2021 Amerika Birleşik Devletleri’nde Disiplinler Arası Nitel Araştırmalarda Finansal Teşvik Kullanımı: 1995–2021 Yılları Arasında Yöntemsel Bir Derleme”. Nitel Sosyal Bilimler 7 (2): 107-27. https://doi.org/10.47105/nsb.1742647.
EndNote
Toraman Turk S, Meneses J, Turk M, Fàbregues S, Dudu S, Ozkan F, Ustun-Elayan B (December 1, 2025) The Use of Financial Incentives in Qualitative Research across Disciplines in the United States: A Methodological Review from 1995 to 2021/ Amerika Birleşik Devletleri’nde Disiplinler Arası Nitel Araştırmalarda Finansal Teşvik Kullanımı: 1995–2021 Yılları Arasında Yöntemsel Bir Derleme. Nitel Sosyal Bilimler 7 2 107–127.
IEEE
[1]S. Toraman Turk et al., “The Use of Financial Incentives in Qualitative Research across Disciplines in the United States: A Methodological Review from 1995 to 2021/ Amerika Birleşik Devletleri’nde Disiplinler Arası Nitel Araştırmalarda Finansal Teşvik Kullanımı: 1995–2021 Yılları Arasında Yöntemsel Bir Derleme”, QSS, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 107–127, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.47105/nsb.1742647.
ISNAD
Toraman Turk, Sinem - Meneses, Julio - Turk, Murat - Fàbregues, Sergi - Dudu, Selda - Ozkan, Fatih - Ustun-Elayan, Beyza. “The Use of Financial Incentives in Qualitative Research across Disciplines in the United States: A Methodological Review from 1995 to 2021 Amerika Birleşik Devletleri’nde Disiplinler Arası Nitel Araştırmalarda Finansal Teşvik Kullanımı: 1995–2021 Yılları Arasında Yöntemsel Bir Derleme”. Nitel Sosyal Bilimler 7/2 (December 1, 2025): 107-127. https://doi.org/10.47105/nsb.1742647.
JAMA
1.Toraman Turk S, Meneses J, Turk M, Fàbregues S, Dudu S, Ozkan F, Ustun-Elayan B. The Use of Financial Incentives in Qualitative Research across Disciplines in the United States: A Methodological Review from 1995 to 2021/ Amerika Birleşik Devletleri’nde Disiplinler Arası Nitel Araştırmalarda Finansal Teşvik Kullanımı: 1995–2021 Yılları Arasında Yöntemsel Bir Derleme. QSS. 2025;7:107–127.
MLA
Toraman Turk, Sinem, et al. “The Use of Financial Incentives in Qualitative Research across Disciplines in the United States: A Methodological Review from 1995 to 2021 Amerika Birleşik Devletleri’nde Disiplinler Arası Nitel Araştırmalarda Finansal Teşvik Kullanımı: 1995–2021 Yılları Arasında Yöntemsel Bir Derleme”. Nitel Sosyal Bilimler, vol. 7, no. 2, Dec. 2025, pp. 107-2, doi:10.47105/nsb.1742647.
Vancouver
1.Sinem Toraman Turk, Julio Meneses, Murat Turk, Sergi Fàbregues, Selda Dudu, Fatih Ozkan, Beyza Ustun-Elayan. The Use of Financial Incentives in Qualitative Research across Disciplines in the United States: A Methodological Review from 1995 to 2021/ Amerika Birleşik Devletleri’nde Disiplinler Arası Nitel Araştırmalarda Finansal Teşvik Kullanımı: 1995–2021 Yılları Arasında Yöntemsel Bir Derleme. QSS. 2025 Dec. 1;7(2):107-2. doi:10.47105/nsb.1742647