Reflexivity is a widely used – perhaps overused – term in research. Although social scientists would consider reflexivity to be a cornerstone of research, it seems that people’s diverse understandings (and misunderstandings) of and engagements with the term may lead to its misuse and superficial applications in everyday research designs and practices.
Adopting a pragmatic stance, this workshop revisits not only whether reflexivity matters, but also why it matters and how a reflexive approach is adopted.
Drawing from their respective ethnographic research experiences in music therapy and occupational science, the presenters will introduce interdisciplinary perspectives and meanings of reflexivity. Practical applications and implications throughout the research process will be discussed. In small groups, participants will be invited to explore reflexivity in relation to their own work, at different phases: research design, implementation, analysis and dissemination. Ethical considerations and dilemmas will be examined and the place of reflexivity in assessing research quality will be discussed.
This workshop is appropriate for students at all stages of their research process and is open to anyone interested in understanding how reflexivity can practically inform and critically shape their research practice.