The word “reflexivity” means to think about yourself and how you relate to what you’re studying. In research, it means to carefully analyze the relationship between the researcher and the subject they’re studying (Finlay and Gough, 2003).
In some types of research, like in the natural sciences it is easy to stay neutral and objective. This is not the case in the social sciences, where people are studied. Researchers are part of the social context they’re studying, so they both shape and are shaped by the people they study. This means that the researcher always has some influence on the study, and it’s impossible to be completely distant, neutral, and objective.
Reflexivity is becoming more and more important in sport psychology studies because it helps researchers see and think about their own influence on the research. This is especially true in research methods that focus on understanding people’s experiences and perspectives. By being reflexive, researchers can bridge the gap between themselves and the people they’re studying, and between what they know and what they’re trying to learn (Etherington, 2004).
It is not always easy to actually be reflexive in practice. In sport psychology, researchers have tried different ways to be more reflexive in their studies (for example Carless & Douglas, 2017), but there’s no one right way to do it. Each study brings its own challenges, so researchers have to be creative and find their own solutions.
Carless, D., & Douglas, K. (2017). When two worlds collide: A story about collaboration, witnessing and life story research with soldiers returning from war. Qualitative Inquiry, 23(5), 375 383.
Etherington, K. (2004). Becoming a reflexive researcher. London: Jessica Kingsley.
Finlay, L., & Gough, B. (Eds.), (2003). Reflexivity: A practical guide for researchers in health and social sciences. Oxford: Blackwell.