Cited by 177Qualitative Research Methods and EthicsSocial Work Education and PracticeQualitative Research Methods and Applications

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 41 of the 41 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; 3 of the 33 sources its claims cite were checked for support.

Challenging perspectives: Reflexivity as a critical approach to qualitative social work research

Open access
Ide, Yayoi, Beddoe, Liz·2024·Qualitative Social Work

Abstract

Reflexivity is acknowledged as a crucial concept and is pivotal in the methodology of qualitative research. Various practices of reflexivity are adopted in the social science disciplines. However, the concept is difficult to pin down and the challenge for researchers is to address how to become reflexive and do reflexivity in research practice. In social work, reflexivity has further been developed and applied in practice contexts. The practice terms, critical reflection and reflection or reflectivity are interrelated in ways that aim to explain reflexivity in the profession which, in turn, can offer an enhanced understanding of reflexivity applied in research. This exploratory article promotes practising reflection – questioning, analysing and evaluating oneself in employing reflexivity in all the research stages: methodological construction, data collection and data analysis by undertaking three key self-focused activities: (1) thinking about one’s own thinking; (2) observation of emotions/thoughts, role boundaries and power dynamics in research relationships; and (3) exploration of perceptual experiences. Maintaining the reflexive stance is achieved through reflectivity. The article is largely descriptive but draws on experience in a doctoral study of cultural competence and promotes the effective use of reflexivity in qualitative social work research.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This exploratory article argues that reflexivity in qualitative social work research can be enacted through reflection across methodological construction, data collection, and data analysis, using three self-focused activities. Drawing on the first author’s PhD study of cultural competence development, it illustrates how reflexivity can surface assumptions, emotions, positioning, and power dynamics, while noting that reflexivity is difficult, time-consuming, and not a natural skill.

Key findings

  • Reflexivity is hard to pin down, and the article proposes practising reflection—questioning, analysing, and evaluating oneself—through three self-focused activities: (1) thinking about one’s own thinking; (2) observing emotions/thoughts, role boundaries, and power dynamics in research relationships; and (3) exploring perceptual experiences.
  • Reflection/reflectivity is presented as a prerequisite for reflexivity; in data analysis, the author describes a subject-object-subject analysis, illustrated through re-examining Māori participants’ meanings of cultural competence and the researcher’s own interpretations.
  • In the first author’s doctoral study, recruitment did not set specific categorised groups; participants came from diverse backgrounds identifying with at least 10 different cultural and race/ethnic groups. Reflexivity revealed fluid insider/outsider positioning and power differentials, and the author states that reflexivity might not be a method of managing power imbalance.
  • The article concludes that both reflectivity and reflexivity are needed to understand participants’ experiences and one’s own, and that reflexivity can awaken consciousness of the researcher’s subjective/personal involvement in research.

Methods

  • Exploratory, largely descriptive article drawing on the first author’s PhD study of cultural competence development (Ide, 2021), with the second author as supervisor; ethical approval was received from the University of Auckland Human Participants Ethics Committee on 4 June 2015.
  • The study used qualitative research stages—methodological construction, data collection, and data analysis—and drew on critical realism (Bhaskar, 1978) and social constructionist perspectives.
  • The article illustrates reflexivity through the first author’s research journals, notes, and interview examples, including interviews with student participants and Māori social workers; no formal sample size or systematic analysis procedure is reported.

Limitations

  • The paper states that reflexivity is not a natural skill but can be improved by education and training; it is time-consuming, researchers may not always have enough time for adequate reflection, and the process can involve emotional challenges such as discomfort, frustration, and vulnerability.
  • The paper also states that how awareness and/or insight emerges from reflexivity is not well known, necessary techniques may not be clear, reflexivity can be considered too subjective and lead to questioning validity, and reflexivity might not manage power imbalance.
  • Evident from the text: the article is largely descriptive and based on one doctoral study, with examples drawn from the first author’s reflections rather than a systematic empirical evaluation of the proposed three activities; participant sample size and formal analytic procedures are not reported.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1177/14733250231173522

Cites

41 of 41 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Verification

Claims the paper makes

26 Own interpretation · 26 No basis given · 19 No full text of the sources · 13 Own result · 6 Sources not found · 3 Supported · 2 Not checked yet · 1 Own method

  • Probably not a substantial claim. 84
  • It may state two separate claims as one. 30
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 1
86 of 86
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    There is a link between the existing world and perceptions of the world that are not identical.

    “A crucial point is that there is a significant assumption of a link between the existing world and perceptions of the world that are not identical.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    How awareness and/or insight emerges from reflexivity is not well known.

    “However, how such awareness and/ or insight emerges from reflexivity is not well known.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The first author's self-reflections accurately capture her unconscious motivations and experiences.

    “In another reflection, I realised that I, unconsciously and unintentionally, avoided categorising any participant's identity as singular due to experiencing my cultural identity as changeable”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The first author's reflections and research journal notes accurately represent her experiences and internal states during the interviews.

    “However, I left a note in my research journal: 'is there something that I misunderstood and or mis-interpreted here?[The participant] looked nonplussed.'”
    “The examples in this article demonstrate that evocative questions have emerged from the first author's research journals and notes.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The first author's interpretations of participants' meanings and experiences are accurate.

    “My first analysis of M aori participants' meanings of cultural competence based on their words in texts and transcripts suggest the support of M aori people and culture in social work practice.”
    “Those participants' central focus regarding cultural competence was seemingly related to the historical issues -M aori colonisation and oppression.”
5 of 5

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

2 of 2

Citations

Cites

Show all 38 references

Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. ANZASW, 2019, Code of Ethics

Metadata

Authors
Ide, Y., & Beddoe, L.
Affiliations
University of Auckland (NZ)
Corresponding author
Ide, Yayoi
Venue
Qualitative Social Work
Published
2023-04-28
Volume
23
Issue
4
Pages
725-740
ISSN
  • 1473-3250 (ISSN-L)
  • 1741-3117
OpenAlex
W4367316670
Cited by
177
References
38
Citations by year
2026: 83 · 2025: 59 · 2024: 30 · 2023: 5
FWCI
52.74
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Qualitative Social Work (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • ResearchSpace (University of Auckland) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Qualitative Research Methods and Ethics
  • Social Sciences › Public Administration › Social Work Education and Practice
  • Social Sciences › Education › Qualitative Research Methods and Applications
Keywords
reflexivity, critical reflection, reflectivity, research relationships, power relations, role boundaries, emotions in research, perceptual experience, cultural competence, researcher self-awareness

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