Background: In nursing research, we study many phenomena that vary and change over time, for example, patient pathways, health or life transitions, or implementation of nursing interventions. In general, longitudinal data materials are more suited for studying change, and longitudinal qualitative data collections are becoming more common. Method literature regarding Qualitative Longitudinal Research (QLR) emphasizes that change in a phenomenon through time should be in focus of a QLR study. However, inempirical studies, the emphasis on time/change in the findings varies greatly. There are also limited descriptions in the method literature regarding how longitudinal findings can be presented logically and succinctly.

Aim: In this method study we developed and described a typology of alternative approaches for integrating time and/or change in QLR findings.

Methods: An adapted scoping review design was used and qualitative articles with longitudinal data collection published between 2017-2019 were identified in Medline and Cinahl through the EBSCOhost interface. In total, 299 articles were included, and their methods and results sections were extracted and analyzed with inspiration from content analysis.

Results: The final typology included three types and seven subtypes based on the underlying structural principle of how time/change was integrated into the findings. In Type A, the findings had a low utilization of the longitudinal data, the longitudinal data collection mostly contributed to a rich and varied data material. In Type B, a timeline approach was used as a way to chronologically structure the results. In contrast, Type C focuses upon changes through time; either focusing on changes in themes through time, changes in cases through time, or describing changing processes.

Conclusion: This method study describes a coherent and comprehensive typology of approaches for presenting QLR results. It is important to keep in mind that there are no good or bad approaches, but depending upon research aims and data collection practices some approaches might be a better choice for certain research projects. The examples provided can support researchers in making an informed choice in how they want to present their QLR findings.