Skip to main content

ETHNOS_APP

Home • Search • Journals • List 0

A practical guide to reflexivity in qualitative research

Amee Guide No. 149

Bibliographic Data

ID19604477
AuthorsFrancisco Manuel Olmos‐Vega (0000-0003-1629-4309, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, corresponding author), Renée E Stalmeijer (0000-0001-8690-5326, Maastricht University), Lara Varpio (0000-0002-1412-4341, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences), Renate Kahlke (0000-0002-4473-5039, McMaster University)
Year2022
Volume45
Issue3
Pages241-251
Publication date2022-04-07
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueMedical Teacher (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0142-159X • E-ISSN: 1466-187X
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/0142159x.2022.2057287
PMID35389310
OpenAlexW4225944184
LanguageEN
Citations received520
References cited52

Qualitative research relies on nuanced judgements that require researcher reflexivity, yet reflexivity is often addressed superficially or overlooked completely during the research process. In this AMEE Guide, we define reflexivity as a set of continuous, collaborative, and multifaceted practices through which researchers self-consciously critique, appraise, and evaluate how their subjectivity and context influence the research processes. We frame reflexivity as a way to embrace and value researchers' subjectivity. We also describe the purposes that reflexivity can have depending on different paradigmatic choices. We then address how researchers can account for the significance of the intertwined personal, interpersonal, methodological, and contextual factors that bring research into being and offer specific strategies for communicating reflexivity in research dissemination. With the growth of qualitative research in health professions education, it is essential that qualitative researchers carefully consider their paradigmatic stance and use reflexive practices to align their decisions at all stages of their research. We hope this Guide will illuminate such a path, demonstrating how reflexivity can be used to develop and communicate rigorous qualitative research

Context (archaeology) · Engineering ethics · Epistemology · Interpersonal communication · Process (computing) · Qualitative research · Reflexivity · Set (abstract data type) · Social science · Sociology · Subjectivity · Computer Science · Mental Health and Patient Involvement · Participatory Visual Research Methods · Psychology · Qualitative Research Methods and Ethics · Social Psychology

  • Amplifying Coaches’ voices from the implementation of the MindSKILLZ youth mental health program in Kenya

    Open Access•Benard Nyauchi, Mercy Kihiu et al.•PLOS Global Public Health•2026

  • Epistemic Doubt as Method

    Open Access•Adrian Fernandes•Culture Studies ↔ Critical…•2026

  • Climate emotions and future planning

    Open Access•Stephanie Olsen, Ashlee Cunsolo et al.•Wellbeing Space and Society•2026

  • Exploring the Lived Experiences of Racialized Parents Accessing Pediatric Rehabilitation Services in Ontario, Canada

    Open Access•Alissa Latiff, Taryn Eickmeier et al.•Journal of Racial and Ethnic…•2026

  • Disruptive shocks in global agri-food value chains

    Open Access•Muhammad Umar, Louise Manning et al.•Global Environmental Change•2026

  • “They can coach themselves essentially”

    Open Access•Wellington de Luna Vazquez, Luis Columna et al.•Frontiers in Sports and Active…•2026

  • Bridging understanding and practice

    Open Access•Margaretha Margaretha, Jane Fisher et al.•Cambridge Prisms Global Mental…•2026

  • Normalization of abuse and barriers to reporting among adolescents and young people in settings of displacement in Nigeria

    Open Access•Abuo James, Precious Chidozie Azubuike et al.•Conflict and Health•2026

  • Exploitation or economic prosperity

    Open Access•Jacob Cubis, Cassandra Wright et al.•Globalization and Health•2026

  • Effectiveness of Mentoring for Improving Lived Experience Engagement in Research

    Open Access•S Houghton, Lisa Brophy et al.•International Journal of…•2026

  • Engaging Youth in Global Health Research Through Photovoice and Reflexivity

    Open Access•Geneviève Fortin, Ashik Barua et al.•International Journal of…•2026

  • Parents’ perceptions of their children’s behavior following the perinatal death of a sibling

    Open Access•Sarah Gill, Sharni Whitburn et al.•Death Studies•2026

  • Embodied scarcity

    Open Access•Md Ashfikur Rahman, Judy Yuen‐man Siu•Social Science & Medicine•2026

  • Power, Intersectionality, and Integration

    Open Access•Amara Sundus, Younas Masih•International Journal of…•2026

  • Learning when not to share

    Open Access•Matthew W Johnson, Julissa Muñiz et al.•Qualitative Research•2026

  • “With each one, a little of you dies” – portrayals of early pregnancy loss in films and TV-series

    Open Access•Charlotte Doesburg•Feminist Media Studies•2026

  • ‘Is something wrong with mine?’

    Open Access•Deana Williams, Deana M Williams et al.•Culture Health & Sexuality•2026

  • Feasibility of LifeLab Dublin

    Open Access•Caera L Grady, Linda Burke et al.•Health Promotion International•2026

  • Towards a Feminist Global Health Policy

    Open Access•Hannah Eger, Shubha Chacko et al.•PLOS Global Public Health•2024

  • Educational interventions to improve pediatric emergency care

    Open Access•Emily A Hartford, Chris A Rees et al.•PLOS Global Public Health•2025

  • Queer and transgender joy

    Open Access•Sofia S Flynn, Shannon Touhey et al.•Psychology of Sexual Orientation…•2024

  • Pediatric Anesthesia Providers’ Perspective on the Real-Life Implementation of the Philips Visual Patient Avatar

    Open Access•Justyna Lunkiewicz, Daniel Fries et al.•Children•2023

  • Partnering with Young Parents to Improve Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Programmes

    Open Access•Genevieve Choi, Holly F B Teagle et al.•Children•2025

  • Lived experiences of South African rehabilitation practitioners during coronavirus disease 2019

    Open Access•Sadna Balton, M Pillay et al.•African Journal of Disability•2024

  • Intersex Epistemologies? Reviewing Relevant Perspectives in Intersex Studies

    Open Access•Amets Suess Schwend•Social Sciences•2024

  • Navigating in a value-driven practice

    Open Access•Marloes van Wezel, C Muusse et al.•Frontiers in Psychiatry•2025

  • Stuck Due to Covid”

    Open Access•L Lin, Georgia Griffin et al.•International Journal of…•2025

  • An Integrated Specialised Care Approach for Families with Multiple, Severe, and Enduring Problems

    Open Access•Anne Marie Barnhoorn-Bos, Eline Heek et al.•International Journal of…•2025

  • Introducing Lived Experience Workers Into a Pregnancy Child Protection Intervention

    Open Access•Zia Tayebjee, Daniela Lewkowicz et al.•Advances in Social Work•2025

  • The Cultural Lens of Childhood

    John Quarshie•The International Journal of…•2024

  • Co-designing formative assessment practices

    Open Access•Lars Goertzen, Trudie Schils et al.•Teaching and Teacher Education•2023

  • Fostering the clinician as teacher

    Open Access•Hiske Joanna Brouwer, Margaret Barry et al.•Medical Education•2025

  • Community Advisory Board Members Speak Out

    Open Access•Deborah Chassler, Ariel Hayes et al.•Health Expectations•2026

  • Unintentional Home Injuries

    Open Access•Umerdad Khudadad, Audrey R Giles et al.•Journal of Racial and Ethnic…•2026

  • Barriers to physical activity among adolescents with asthma and obesity

    Open Access•Nan Lin, Xiaohui Chen et al.•BMC Public Health•2025

  • Engaging families to create a better post-pandemic future

    Open Access•Jeanna Parsons Leigh, Stephana J Mo et al.•BMC Public Health•2025

  • Understanding Staff Experiences and Support Needs Relating to the Deaths of People Experiencing Homelessness

    Open Access•Eleanor Marks, Anna Tickle et al.•Health & Social Care in the…•2026

  • An Exploratory Qualitative Study of Beverage Sweetening Practices in Middle Eastern Families

    Open Access•Abir Abdel Rahman, Nada Kassem et al.•INQUIRY The Journal of Health…•2025

  • Sample size for saturation in qualitative research

    Open Access•Sirwan Khalid Ahmed•Journal of Medicine, Surgery, and…•2025

  • Role and meaning of physical places of solace for serious illness, death and grief

    Open Access•Dury, Louise D’eer et al.•Wellbeing Space and Society•2026

  • Toward an interpretive approach to recognition justice in energy transitions

    Open Access•Charissa Leiwakabessy, Imrat Verhoeven et al.•Energy Research & Social Science•2026

  • Trustworthiness as Inferential Accountability in Qualitative Research

    Open Access•Abdur Rashid, Rizwana Rasheed•International Journal of…•2026

  • Facilitators and barriers to Latino/a adolescents' help‐seeking behaviors

    Open Access•Fernanda L Cro, Joel Lucio et al.•Journal of Research on Adolescence•2026

  • Uplifting the Voices of Marginalized Black Communities

    Open Access•Megan E Miller, Fatih Kunkul et al.•Journal of Transcultural Nursing•2026

  • Applying adaptive research methods to explore health literacy in young people with intellectual disability

    Open Access•Thom Nevill, Jessica Keeley et al.•Health Promotion International•2026

  • ‘Are we getting through to them? And in what way?’ Communicating physical activity with adolescents

    Open Access•Caera L Grady, Elaine Murtagh et al.•Health Promotion International•2025

  • Community listening to understand determinants of healthy eating in an Australian priority community

    Open Access•Shanti Kadariya, Joy Parkinson et al.•Health Promotion International•2025

  • Listening to Aboriginal mothers

    Open Access•Fiona Mitchell, Rachel Laws et al.•Health Promotion International•2026

  • Black Boys' Perceptions of Depression and Mental Health

    Open Access•Ed-Dee G Williams, Allura Casanova et al.•Social Problems•2023

  • Specimens as individuals

    Open Access•Alexandra E Kralick, Stephanie L Canington et al.•Evolutionary Anthropology Issues…•2023

  • Implementation Challenges and Expectations on Family and Community Nurses in Italy

    Open Access•Matilda Coldebella, Renzo Zanotti et al.•Health & Social Care in the…•2026

  • Applying Hybrid Coding and Reflexivity in Qualitative Content Analysis

    Open Access•Kunwar Kaur, Ma'En Zaid Abu‐qamar et al.•Global Qualitative Nursing Research•2025

  • Negotiating healthy food retail initiatives in the research project Healthier Choices in Supermarkets

    Open Access•Katrine Sidenius Duus, Tine Tjørnhøj‐thomsen et al.•BMC Public Health•2025

  • The Burdens of Underrepresentation and Professional Identity

    Open Access•Kechi Iheduru‐anderson•Global Qualitative Nursing Research•2025

  • Social reintegration of fistula survivors in North Central Nigeria

    Hannah M Degge, C Z Olorunsaiye et al.•Health Care For Women International•2023

  • The Way the System is Working Out, It's Not Working at All”

    Open Access•Andrea E Spencer, Tierney P Mcmahon et al.•Child Psychiatry & Human…•2025

  • A Mixed-Methods Usability Pilot of a Value-Goal Elicitation Tool in the Inpatient Setting for Older Adults Anticipating Post-Acute Care

    Open Access•Kirstin Manges, Caroline Pascal et al.•INQUIRY The Journal of Health…•2025

  • Positionalities in disaster recovery research

    Hannah K Friedrich, Yajaira Ayala et al.•Disaster Prevention and…•2025

  • Women’s healthcare needs and access across the incarceration pathway in Israel

    Open Access•Nisreen Agbaria, Heino Stöver et al.•BMC Public Health•2025

  • Barriers and facilitators to healthy eating during post‐partum among non‐Hispanic Black mothers

    Open Access•Melissa C Kay, Margaret E Bentley et al.•Maternal and Child Nutrition•2024

  • Kurdish Refugee Beliefs about Mental Health and Help-Seeking

    Open Access•Leah Scholma Branam, Ismail Yigit et al.•International Journal of…•2023

  • Seeing Food Through Young Children’s Eyes

    Open Access•Irith Freedman, Anat Gesser‐Edelsburg et al.•Children•2026

  • People at Risk of, or with Cardiovascular Diseases’ Perspectives and Perceptions of Physiotherapist-Led Health Promotion in Cameroon

    Open Access•Etienne Ngeh Ngeh, Sionnadh McLean et al.•International Journal of…•2024

  • Factors influencing the intention to purchase health insurance among middle-income Malaysians

    Open Access•Zalilah Abdullah, Yea Lu Tay et al.•BMC Public Health•2025

  • Implementing Evidence-Based Practices in Rural Areas

    Open Access•Magnus Bergmark, Urban Markström et al.•Journal of Evidence-Based Social…•2024

  • An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Counseling Interns’ Experiences Serving Older Adults

    Open Access•Matthew C Fullen, Paul M Delaughter et al.•Counselor Education and Supervision•2025

  • Allied Health Professions Accreditation Standards for Work Integrated Learning

    Open Access•Merrolee Penman, Jacqueline Raymond et al.•International Journal of…•2023

  • Exploring communication supports for children with visual impairment and blindness

    Open Access•Kristen Abrahams, Dellicia de Vos et al.•African Journal of Disability•2025

  • Beyond Burnout

    Open Access•Melissa Powell, Tolu O Oyesanya et al.•Global Qualitative Nursing Research•2024

  • Evaluation of the Early Years South Australia mobile application

    Open Access•Ben Singh, Kate Walker et al.•BMC Public Health•2025

  • Come What May”

    Open Access•Nistyn Cariño Bagnas, Annabel Hui Callos Choy•BMC Psychology•2025

  • Access and Early Integration of Palliative Care in the Non-Hospital Setting for Individuals Living with Cancer in the United States

    Open Access•Kim Slusser, Mary Beth Flynn Makic et al.•Global Qualitative Nursing Research•2025

  • Qualitative insights from patient/caregivers, and clinicians on routine use of the EQ-5D-Y-5L in clinical paediatric care—results from a pilot feasibility and acceptability trial

    Open Access•Renée K Jones, Renee Jones et al.•Quality of Life Research•2026

  • Community-based maternal and perinatal death surveillance and response

    Open Access•Marco Mary, Hannah Tappis et al.•BMC Public Health•2025

  • The perception of risk in contracting and spreading Covid-19 amongst individuals, households and vulnerable groups in England

    Open Access•Kerry Hanna, Pam Clarke et al.•BMC Public Health•2023

  • Empowering Chinese university health service providers to become mental health champions

    Open Access•Fenghua Wang, Jianguo Gao et al.•Frontiers in Psychiatry•2024

  • Voices in Motion

    Open Access•Chanté Johannes, James Reid et al.•International Journal of…•2025

  • Mirrors for Pacific Islander Children

    Open Access•Isabel Medina Hull, Elizabeth A Cutrer‐Párraga et al.•International Journal of…•2025

  • Improving Representation in Autism Research

    Open Access•Georgina J Rosenbrock, Jelisa D Boykin et al.•Journal of Developmental and…•2025

  • The Regenerative Lens

    Open Access•Sam J Buckton, I Fazey et al.•One Earth•2023

  • Inter-community participatory social network analysis

    Open Access•Hyeonggeun Ji•Disaster Prevention and…•2025

  • Perinatal fetal loss grief counselling experience for expectant fathers

    Open Access•Qiong Gao, Li Zhu et al.•Frontiers in Psychiatry•2025

  • Indian STEM student migrants’ practices in Kazakhstan

    Open Access•Alina Schartner, Sam Shields et al.•Discover Education•2026

  • Artificial intelligence as a reflexive collaborator in graduate studies supervision

    Open Access•Anthony Brown, Jaco Rossouw•Transformation in Higher Education•2026

  • Unpacking the practices of compound hazard communication

    Open Access•Erin Hawley, Gabi Mocatta et al.•International Journal of Disaster…•2026

  • Exploring Local Government Behaviors Towards the Sustainable Development of Tourism Real Estate in Hainan Island

    Open Access•Dan Jin, Zhanar Nurgazina et al.•Tourism Planning & Development•2026

  • Un amigo es una luz brillando en la oscuridad

    Open Access•Kathia Rebeca Arreola Rodríguez•Desde el Sur Revista de Ciencias…•2026

  • Fluid Swipes and Solid Care on Dating Apps

    Open Access•Plata Sofie Diesen•Social Sciences•2026

  • Enhancing practitioner research in school settings

    Open Access•Kate Mawson, Rebekah Charlotte Gear et al.•Professional Development in…•2026

  • Dialogue in action

    Open Access•Seçil TÜMEN AKYILDIZ•Thinking Skills and Creativity•2026

  • A Qualitative Inquiry into Mindfulness Practices Among College Students in India and the United States

    Open Access•P Aggarwal, Blessing S Johnson et al.•Mindfulness•2026

  • The idiodynamic method as an innovative research tool in L2 motivation

    Peter D Macintyre, P MacIntyre et al.•Innovation in Language Learning…•2026

  • Adolescent flourishing in a digitally connected world

    Open Access•Chloe S Gordon, Nicki Brake et al.•Educational Research Review•2026

  • Between, beside and beyond the binary

    Open Access•Barry Morrissey, Fiona King et al.•International Journal of Research…•2026

  • From reflection to design

    Open Access•Tomáš Kos, Renata Emilsson Peskova et al.•International Journal of Research…•2026

  • Creating the space for autistic children’s agency and genuine engagement in research

    Open Access•Vani Narayanan, Roseanna Bourke et al.•International Journal of Research…•2026

  • Embodied renegotiation

    Open Access•Jasmyn Kim, Jinmoo Heo•Body Image•2026

  • A mixed-methods study investigating the acceptability of an early acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) intervention to aid adjustment to appearance changes after burns

    Open Access•Laura Shepherd, Fuschia Sirois et al.•Body Image•2026

  • Learning to Interview

    Open Access•Pengfei Zhao, Richard Watson Todd•rEFLections•2026

  • Exploring Black British African and Caribbean peoples' experiences of self‐harm and accessing support

    Open Access•Olivia Alleyne, Vyv Huddy•Psychology and Psychotherapy:…•2026

  • The Sage Handbook of Current Developments in Grounded Theory

    A Bryant, Kathy Charmaz•The SAGE Handbook of Current…•2019

  • How phenomenology can help us learn from the experiences of others

    Open Access•Brian E Neubauer, Catherine T Witkop et al.•Perspectives on Medical Education•2019

  • Asking Questions of the Data

    Lora Bex Lempert•The SAGE Handbook of Grounded…•2007

  • An Unnecessary KIS? The UK’s Key Information Set, was it Really needed and What was its Real Purpose?

    Open Access•Andrew Gary Darwin Holmes•Shanlax International Journal of…•2020

  • Reconceptualizing rigour

    Open Access•Tina Koch, Ann Harrington•Journal of Advanced Nursing•1998

  • Reflection and reflective practice in health professions education

    Open Access•Karen Mann, Jill Gordon et al.•Advances in Health Sciences…•2009

  • The Distinctions Between Theory, Theoretical Framework, and Conceptual Framework

    Lara Varpio, Elise Paradis et al.•Academic Medicine•2020

  • Memoing in qualitative research

    Open Access•Melanie Birks, Ysanne Chapman et al.•Journal of Research in Nursing•2008

  • Qualitative research

    Open Access•Kirsti Malterud•The Lancet•2001

  • The Discovery of Grounded Theory

    Barney G Glaser, Anselm L Strauss•Discovery of Grounded Theory•2017

  • Postpositivism in Health Professions Education Scholarship

    Meredith E Young, Meredith Young et al.•Academic Medicine•2020

  • Philosophy of Science Series

    Lara Varpio, Alan Macleod•Academic Medicine•2020

  • The applicability of generalisability and bias to health professions education's research

    Open Access•Lara Varpio, Bridget C OʼBrien et al.•Medical Education•2021

  • Shedding the cobra effect

    Open Access•Lara Varpio, Rola Ajjawi et al.•Medical Education•2016

  • The methods of reflexivity

    Russell Walsh•The Humanistic Psychologist•2003

  • Distributing Reflexivity through Co-laborative Ethnography

    Open Access•P Bieler, Milena D Bister et al.•Journal of Contemporary Ethnography•2021

  • Bracketing in Research

    Open Access•R E Gearing•Qualitative Health Research•2004

  • Autoethnography as a Strategy for Engaging in Reflexivity

    Open Access•Wilma J Koopman, Christopher Watling et al.•Global Qualitative Nursing Research•2020

  • Reflexivity, its Meanings and Relevance for Social Work

    Heather D’Cruz, Philip Gillingham et al.•The British Journal of Social Work•2005

  • A Reflexive Lens

    Open Access•Suzanne Day•Qualitative Sociology Review•2012

  • Collective Reflexivity

    Chez Leggatt‐cook, Joanna Sheridan et al.•Qualitative Research in Psychology•2011

  • Methodological reflexivity

    Glenda Raven•Environmental Education Research•2006

  • Towards reflexive practice

    Open Access•Jonathan A Smith•Journal of Community & Applied…•1994

  • The Evolution of Epistemology and Concepts in an Iterative‐Generative Reflective Practice

    Open Access•Brenda Bishop, Brian J Bishop et al.•American Journal of Community…•2002

  • Now You See Them, Now You Don’t

    Open Access•Judith H Shulman•Educational Researcher•1990

  • Being in, being out, being with

    Louise Rowling•Mortality•1999

  • Confession, catharsis, or cure? Rethinking the uses of reflexivity as methodological power in qualitative research

    Wanda S Pillow, Wanda Pillow•International Journal of…•2003

  • Getting Personal

    Kim England, Kim V L England•The Professional Geographer•1994

  • The Problem of Bracketing in Phenomenology

    Open Access•Jeanne J Levasseur•Qualitative Health Research•2003

  • Using Reflexivity to Optimize Teamwork in Qualitative Research

    Open Access•Christine A Barry, Nicky Britten et al.•Qualitative Health Research•1999

  • "Outing" the Researcher

    Open Access•Linda Finlay•Qualitative Health Research•2002

  • Member Checking

    Open Access•Linda Birt, Suzanne Scott et al.•Qualitative Health Research•2016

  • Incorporating Perspective Taking in Reflexivity

    Open Access•Ilana Finefter-Rosenbluh•International Journal of…•2017

  • Bridging Conceptions of Quality in Moments of Qualitative Research

    Open Access•Michael John Ravenek, Debbie Laliberte Rudman•International Journal of…•2013

  • Contextual Reflexivity

    Open Access•Thirusha Naidu, Yvonne Sliep•International Journal of…•2011

  • Negotiating the swamp

    Open Access•Linda Finlay•Qualitative Research•2002

  • Introduction to the Special Issue

    Open Access•Angela Kuehner, Andrea Ploder et al.•Qualitative Inquiry•2016

  • Qualitative Quality

    Open Access•Sarah J Tracy•Qualitative Inquiry•2010

  • Against Reflexivity as an Academic Virtue and Source of Privileged Knowledge

    Open Access•Michael Lynch, Michael S Lynch•Theory Culture & Society•2000

  • Reflexive Accounts and Accounts of Reflexivity in Qualitative Data Analysis

    Open Access•Natasha S Mauthner, A Doucet•Sociology•2003

Unique citing works520
Citations per year130
Citation span2022 - 2026 (5)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedYes
Citation typesNeutral: 486
Ethnos_APP • Open Source Project • MIT License • Frontend v2.0.0 • Privacy and Cookies • API Documentation: api.ethnos.app/docs • API Source Code: GitHub • DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17049435 • Frontend Source Code: GitHub • DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17050053 • cruz.rio.br • Expectantes Misericordiae