The DOI matches its Crossref record; 41 of the 43 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
“Outing” the Researcher: The Provenance, Process, and Practice of Reflexivity
Abstract
To increase the integrity and trustworthiness of qualitative research, researchers need to evaluate how intersubjective elements influence data collection and analysis. Reflexivity— where researchers engage in explicit, self-aware analysis of their own role—offers one tool for such evaluation. The process of engaging in reflexive analysis, however, is difficult, and its subjective, ambiguous nature is contested. In the face of challenges, researchers might retreat from engaging in the process. In this article, the author seeks to “out” the researcher’s presence by exploring the theory and practice of reflexivity. Examples from research illustrate its problematic potential.
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In the citing paper
“Reflexivity is acknowledged as a crucial concept and is pivotal in the methodology of qualitative research.”
From Challenging perspectives: Reflexivity as a critical approach to qualitative social work research (2024) · cites this paper as Finlay, 2002
In the citing paper
“On the other hand, while reflexivity has become significant in the production of qualitative research, the necessary techniques may not be clear (Day, 2012), and it can be considered too subjective (Finlay, 2002) leading to questioning the validity of the research.”
From Challenging perspectives: Reflexivity as a critical approach to qualitative social work research (2024) · cites this paper as Finlay, 2002
In the citing paper
“Reflection entails a subject-object analysis or subject 'I' analysis as Finlay (2002) mentioned.”
From Challenging perspectives: Reflexivity as a critical approach to qualitative social work research (2024) · cites this paper as Finlay, 2002
In the citing paper
“As such, C.A.M. and S.E.O. continually examined their beliefs, assumptions and motivations, and how these affected their research.41”
From Women’s experiences of skin-to-skin cesarean birth compared to standard cesarean birth: a qualitative study (2021) · cites this paper as [41]
Citations
Cites
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Phenomenological research methods
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van Manen, M. (1990) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 11,308
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The Quality of Qualitative Research
Seale, C. F. (1999) · SAGE Publications Ltd eBooks · doi:10.4135/9780857020093 · Cited by 2,174
Research works printed but not linked: 15
- Coffey, A., 1996, Making sense of qualitative data analysis: Complementary strategies
- DeVault, M. L., 1997, Reflexivity and voice, 216
- Dilthey, W., 1985, Poetry and experience: Selected Works
- Ellis, C., 1997, Reflexivity and voice, 119
- Gough, B., International Human Science Conference
- Harré, R., 1983, Personal being
- Hertz, R., 1997, Reflexivity and voice
- Jorgenson, J., 1991, Research and reflexivity, 210
- Marshall, H., 1998, Standpoints and differences, 115
- Outhwaite, W., 1985, The returnof grand theory in the human sciences, 21
- Reason, P., 1988, Human inquiry in action
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- Wertz, F. J., 1984, Exploring the lived world: Readings in phenomenological psychology, 29
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
Now I see it, now I don’t: researcher’s position and reflexivity in qualitative research
Berger, R. (2015) · Qualitative Research · doi:10.1177/1468794112468475 · Cited by 4,031
“Like Finlay (2000) stated ‘I had to guard against assuming that my participants and I shared the same language … if I failed to do so, I might have missed the point’ (p. 537).”
BackgroundChoose Your Method: A Comparison of Phenomenology, Discourse Analysis, and Grounded Theory
Starks, H., & Brown Trinidad, S. (2007) · Qualitative Health Research · doi:10.1177/1049732307307031 · Cited by 2,528
A practical guide to reflexivity in qualitative research: AMEE Guide No. 149.
Olmos-Vega, F. M., Stalmeijer, R. E., Varpio, L., & Kahlke, R. (2023) · Medical Teacher · doi:10.1080/0142159x.2022.2057287 · Cited by 2,014
“Qualitative methodologists have proposed various reflexivity typologies (Finlay 2002a; Walsh 2003; D’Cruz et al. 2005), though none have gained prominence within HPE or beyond.”
BackgroundInfluentialNegotiating the swamp: the opportunity and challenge of reflexivity in research practice
Finlay, L. (2002) · Qualitative Research · doi:10.1177/146879410200200205 · Cited by 1,979
“We no longer seek to eradicate the researcher’s presence – instead subjectivity in research is transformed from a problem to an opportunity (Finlay, 2002).”
BackgroundInfluentialSelf-citationMoltu, C., Stefansen, J., Svisdahl, M., & Veseth, M. (2012) · Disability and Rehabilitation · doi:10.3109/09638288.2012.656792 · Cited by 1,247
Metadata
- Authors
- Finlay, L.
- Affiliations
- The Open University (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Finlay, Linda
- Venue
- Qualitative Health Research
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2002-04
- Volume
- 12
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 531-545
- ISSN
- 1049-7323 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-7557
- OpenAlex
- W2133094746
- Cited by
- 1,937
- References
- 43
- Citations by year
- 2026: 345 · 2025: 184 · 2024: 125 · 2023: 121 · 2022: 113 · 2021: 119 · 2020: 94 · 2019: 115 · 2018: 77 · 2017: 77 · 2016: 76 · 2015: 85 · 2014: 79 · 2013: 59 · 2012: 56
- FWCI
- 27.36
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Qualitative Health Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Qualitative Research Methods and Ethics
- Social Sciences › Education › Qualitative Research Methods and Applications
- Social Sciences › Cultural Studies › Posthumanist Ethics and Activism
- Keywords
- reflexivity, researcher reflexivity, researcher presence, intersubjectivity, research trustworthiness, researcher positionality
- MeSH terms
- Data Collection, Evaluation Studies as Topic, Health Services Research, Research Design, Research Personnel, Professional Role
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