REFLEXIVITY: when the researcher acknowledges his/her own beliefs so that bias is reduced.
Reflexivity is highly important because credibility of the research depends on the research and whether they can keep bias at a minimum.
Reasons why reflexivity is used:
researcher may form a rapport with the participant, which may lead to bias
recording and interpreting of behaviour and interviews can be subjective
analysis can also be subjective
researchers study topics of personal interest and may become too deeply involved
How is reflexivity achieved?
researcher is to be interviewed by someone else before the study begins, this can uncover own opinions and beliefs
researcher to keep a diary, all notes can be taken into consideration once the study is over
researcher is to give a prediction of results before the study has begun, this gives researcher no space to changes hypotheses to fit want they want to happen
check conclusions of participants. Is there a correlation?