Reflexivity
nounverified·updated May 18, 2026
in qualitative research, the self-referential quality of a study in which the researcher reflects on the assumptions behind the study and especially the influence of his or her own motives, history, and biases on its conduct.
Framework senses
- §1
- in qualitative research, the self-referential quality of a study in which the researcher reflects on the assumptions behind the study and especially the influence of his or her own motives, history, and biases on its conduct.
- §1
- A form of critical thinking that prompts us to consider the ‘whys’ and ‘hows’ of research, critically questioning the utility, ethics, and value of what, whom, and how we study
- §1
- (logic and mathematics) a relation such that it holds between an element and itself
- §2
- the coreferential relation between a reflexive pronoun and its antecedent