Towards reflexive practice: Engaging participants as co-researchers or co-analysts in psychological inquiry
✍ Scribed by Jonathan A. Smith
- Book ID
- 102775462
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 1994
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 575 KB
- Volume
- 4
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 1052-9284
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
Abstract
This paper considers some of the implications of reflexivity for the practice of psychological research. After a brief consideration of the theoretical background to a concern with reflexivity, the paper goes on to examine how various researchers have attempted to incorporate components of reflexivity in their research practice. While a group of sociologists of science have operationalized reflexivity by self‐conscious concern for their own role in the construction of social—scientific knowledge, new paradigm co‐operative inquirers interpret a need for reflexivity by including their participants as fully self‐reflexive co‐researchers. Mulkay's suggestion for a dialogic analytical exchange with one's participants is also considered. The second half of the paper illustrates an attempt at reflexive practice in the authors' own research. This was a project concerned with identity change during the transition to motherhood, and aimed to allow the women a strong hand in helping to shape the project's direction. Preliminary analysis of a woman's data was taken back to her for her comments, and her reflections on the data were incorporated in the final case study. A detailed example of the investigator and participant's discussion of a piece of data is provided.