Autoethnography as a Strategy for Engaging in Reflexivity

Bibliographic Data

ID15736719
AuthorsWilma J Koopman (0000-0001-5074-5711, Western University, corresponding author), Christopher Watling (0000-0001-9686-795X, Western University), Kori A Ladonna (0000-0003-4738-0146, University of Ottawa)
Year2020
Volume7
Pages2333393620970508-2333393620970508
Publication date2020-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueGlobal Qualitative Nursing Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2333-3936 • E-ISSN: 2333-3936
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/2333393620970508
PMID33283020
OpenAlexW3104288520
LanguageEN
Citations received27
References cited22

Reflexivity is a key feature in qualitative research, essential for ensuring rigor. As a nurse practitioner with decades of experience with individuals who have chronic diseases, now embarking on a PhD, I am confronted with the question "how will my clinical experiences shape my research?" Since there are few guidelines to help researchers engage in reflexivity in a robust way, deeply buried aspects that may affect the research may be overlooked. The purpose of this paper is to consider the affordances of combining autoethnography (AE) with visual methods to facilitate richer reflexivity. Reflexive activities such as free writing of an autobiographical narrative, drawings of clinical vignettes, and interviews conducted by an experienced qualitative researcher were analyzed to probe and make visible perspectives that may impact knowledge production. Two key themes reflecting my values-fostering advocacy and favoring independence and autonomy were uncovered with this strategy

Affordance · Art · Autoethnography · Autonomy · Cognitive psychology · Journaling file system · Narrative · Political science · Qualitative research · Reflexivity · Social science · Sociology · Computer Science · Gender Studies · Mental Health and Patient Involvement · Participatory Visual Research Methods · Psychology · Qualitative Research Methods and Ethics