Reflexivity in Qualitative Research

Reflexivity is the practice of examining how the researcher's identity, assumptions, relationships, and values influence the research process and findings. Rather than treating objectivity as achievable detachment, reflexivity acknowledges that the researcher is embedded within the research and cannot be fully separated from it. Originating in sociology and anthropology, reflexivity has become central to qualitative research rigor across disciplines. Reflexive researchers critically examine their own influence at each stage: research design, participant recruitment, data collection, interpretation, and presentation. This transparency strengthens rigor by making visible the lens through which data are collected and interpreted.