Which question would help determine auditability when critiquing a qualitative study?

In qualitative research, auditability refers to the clarity and transparency of the research process, allowing others to trace the researchers' thought processes and decisions throughout the study. When assessing auditability, a key consideration is whether the researcher's reasoning and interpretations are explicit and coherent, making it easier for readers to follow the logical progression of ideas and conclusions drawn from the data.

Choosing a question that focuses on whether the reader can follow the researcher's thinking directly addresses this aspect. This involves evaluating the methodology, findings, and how they relate to the original research questions. If readers can clearly see how researchers arrived at their conclusions, it strengthens the study's credibility and allows for a more thorough critique.

The other options, while pertinent to other aspects of qualitative research, do not focus on the transparency of the researcher's reasoning in the same way. They instead address issues of time spent understanding the phenomenon, the broader significance of the findings, or the clarity of the introduction. None of these questions specifically measures how well another reader can trace and understand the researcher’s thought process throughout the study.