A Critical Appraisal of Indonesian Micro-enterprise Research: Investigating Reporting Practices for Limitations, Delimitations, and Context

This critical appraisal evaluates the quality and rigor of reporting delimitation, limitations, and context in studies on growth factors in Indonesian microenterprises from 2020 to 2024. Following PRISMA Search guidelines, 17 studies were identified, including three mixed-methods, four qualitative, and ten quantitative. The Quality Assessment Tool for Studies with Diverse Designs (QATSDD) revealed significant reporting deficiencies, with an overall mean score of 0.97 out of 3. Thematic analysis unveiled inadequate reporting of limitations and delimitations, inconsistent theoretical frameworks, methodological errors, and insufficient description of contextual information. Ethical considerations were absent in all but one study. Furthermore, the review highlighted challenges stemming from the indexing of low-quality research in non-accredited journals, undermining the reliability of academic databases. The findings emphasize the need for stricter quality standards in journals, improved transparency in research reporting, and ongoing critical appraisal to enhance the credibility and relevance of evidence regarding Indonesian microenterprises.