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Annotation for Transparent Inquiry (ATI)

Annotation for Transparent Inquiry (ATI) is a new tool designed to facilitate transparency in qualitative and mixed-methods research.

It allows scholars to “annotate” specific passages in a publication with additional information explaining how they generated and analysed their data, along with links to a wide variety of underlying data sources. These annotations are displayed alongside their articles on the publisher’s website, with pinpoint linking to the relevant sections of text.

If you are an author wishing to use ATI for a publication, please ensure that you have read the Qualitative Data Repository's detailed guidance on creating an ATI Project . Please also reach out to your journal's editorial team, or the commissioning editor of your book or monograph, as early as possible in the publication process so that we can coordinate the publication of your annotations with QDR.

Why are we using ATI?

Example of an annotated article using ATI

Because rigorous and transparent research is about more than just sharing quantitative data.

In qualitative and mixed-methods research, researchers often analyse rich qualitative data sets individually or in small groups, and interweave their data, analysis, and conclusions throughout their publications. Using ATI, authors can show the data and analysis on which their research is based alongside the main text, enriching their published work and facilitating deeper understanding for readers. Annotations may include analytic notes, source excerpts, translations of source excerpts, links to qualitative or quantitative data sources, explanations about secure or sensitive source materials, and more.

An image shows ATI annotations displays alongside the article. There is text on this image but that has been replicated in the text of this page.
Example of an annotated article using ATI on Cambridge Core

Example of an annotated article using ATI

An image shows ATI annotations displays alongside the article. There is text on this image but that has been replicated in the text of this page.
Example of an annotated article using ATI on Cambridge Core

Because rigorous and transparent research is about more than just sharing quantitative data.

In qualitative and mixed-methods research, researchers often analyse rich qualitative data sets individually or in small groups, and interweave their data, analysis, and conclusions throughout their publications. Using ATI, authors can show the data and analysis on which their research is based alongside the main text, enriching their published work and facilitating deeper understanding for readers. Annotations may include analytic notes, source excerpts, translations of source excerpts, links to qualitative or quantitative data sources, explanations about secure or sensitive source materials, and more.

How can I view ATI annotations?

ATI has been integrated with the HTML versions of publications on Cambridge Core, and can be viewed in an ordinary web browser. No special software is required. To view the annotations, simply click on the "Annotations" button at the top of the publication to expand the ATI side bar. You can then navigate through the annotations and see which section of the publication each one relates to.

Sections of the publication's text which have annotations attached are also highlighted on the HTML page, and clicking any highlighted text will also open the ATI side bar and the relevant annotation.

Development and use of ATI

ATI annotations are created by the author(s) of a publication, curated by the Qualitative Data Repository, hosted and served by Hypothesis, and displayed alongside the digital publication on Cambridge Core.

The ATI initiative was developed in collaboration with the Qualitative Data Repository (QDR)  at Syracuse University and the non-profit software company Hypothesis . In an initial pilot phase, we reached out to authors of published articles and retrospectively added ATI annotations to a number of articles on Cambridge Core. These articles were selected from various disciplines including political science, international relations, socio-linguistics, healthcare, and bioethics, and showcase some of the diverse ways ATI can be used.

In 2018 ATI was shortlisted for the ALPSP Awards for Innovation in Publishing . ATI was one of six finalists selected out of 45 submissions, a new record for the ALPSP Awards. You can read more about ATI’s foundations and goals on the Why ATI?  page of the QDR website.

In 2022 we published the first ever book to be annotated using ATI, Constitution Makers on Constitution Making, edited by Tom Ginsburg and Sumit Bisarya. This exciting new use of ATI represents a key step forward for transparency of qualitative research, much of which is published in monographs.

We are continuing to develop our workflows to support the use of ATI in more publications. If you are an author wishing to use ATI for a publication, please ensure that you have read the Qualitative Data Repository's detailed guidance on creating an ATI Project . Please also reach out to your journal's editorial team, or the commissioning editor of your book or monograph, as early as possible in the publication process so that we can coordinate the publication of your annotations with QDR.

Articles annotated with ATI