I this webinar hosted by the CAQDAS Networking Project I discuss the benefits of CAQDAS packages for reflection and reflexivity in qualitative analysis There are many benefits for using dedicated CAQDAS-packages to facilitate qualitative analysis, but this webinar focuses on what for me, is the central benefit: the ability to capture reflections and engage in reflexivity not only in-the-moment, but integrated with the data that prompted the analytic thoughts and in a way that enables them to be built upon and incorporated into the analysis reliably and transparently. First I outline my conceptualisation of the difference between reflection and reflexivity, and why this is an important distinction to make. Then I illustrate, using the current iteration of the Analytic Activities framework, first published in Lewins & Silver 2007, how reflection (incorporating reflexivity) is central to both qualitative analytic method and the creative and rigorous use of CAQDAS tools. Then, I outline the CAQDAS tools that can be used to capture for these purposes, focusing on writing and mapping spaces. This includes discussion about both what is reflected upon, and how they can be captured in terms of the integration of tools. This leads to a discussion about quality in qualitative analysis and the contribution of the use of CAQDAS tools in this space. Participants are encouraged to engage creatively in this webinar, bringing not only questions but also to share their needs and experiences for reflection and reflexivity in the context of their use of their chosen CAQDAS package.

1. Welcome to the
CAQDAS Webinar Series
https://www.surrey.ac.uk/computer-assisted-
qualitative-data-analysis/training#seminars
Christina Silver, Ph.D., FAcSS., SFHEA Sarah L Bulloch, Ph.D
http://bit.ly/CAQDASchannel

2. The benefits of CAQDAS-packages
for reflection and reflexivity in
qualitative analysis
Christina Silver, PhD., FAcSS, SFHEA
Teaching Fellow & Manager of the CAQDAS Networking Project
Co-Founder & Director, Qualitative Data Analysis Services (QDAS)
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/Christina_QDAS
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YouTube: youtube.com/@ChristinaSilverPhD
Podcast: anchor.fm/christina-qdas
Research Gate: researchgate.net/profile/Christina-Silver
Academia.edu: surrery.academia.edu/ChristinaSilver
Orchid ID: 0000-0002-4614-2165

3. Topics under discussion
today
Benefits of CAQDAS-packages (context)
Distinguishing reflecting from reflexivity (terminology)
Centrality of reflection/reflexivity to QDA (method)
CAQDAS-tools for these tasks (tools)
Why it matters (quality)

4. Benefits of CAQDAS-
packages
Container to store and connect (toolbox – “garden shed”)
Project management (data/storage/classification)
Tools designed for qualitative analysis
Sophisticated ways to identify patterns, relationships, anomalies
Tools for visualizing and reporting
Can be used to illustrate quality
Access to materials, ideas, process, for others

5. https://www.qdaservices.co.uk/post/why-bother-with-caqdas-
access-at-the-click-of-a-button

6. distinguishing reflection
and reflexivity
sometimes used interchangeably, but useful to differentiate
“reflection can be defined as ‘thinking about’ something after the event.
Reflexivity, in contrast, involves a more immediate, dynamic and
continuing self-awareness” (Finlay & Gough 2003:ix)
this is about the when, but what about the what?

7. “recognise and take responsibility for one’s own
situatedness within the research and the effect that it
may have on the setting and people being studied,
questions being asked, data being collected, and its
interpretation” (Berger 2015:220).
reflexivity definitions

8. “recognise and take responsibility for one’s own
situatedness within the research and the effect that it
may have on the setting and people being studied,
questions being asked, data being collected, and its
interpretation” (Berger 2015:220).
reflexivity definitions

9. “Through reflexivity, researchers acknowledge the changes
brought about in themselves as a result of the research process
and how these changes have affected the research process. The
journey of discovering how researchers shaped and how they
were shaped by the research process and output is an iterative
and empowering process. More so when their positionality/ies
is/are challenged and the researchers acknowledge that
reflexivity should be recognized as a significant part of the
research findings” (Palaganas et al 2017).
reflexivity definitions

10. “Through reflexivity, researchers acknowledge the changes
brought about in themselves as a result of the research process
and how these changes have affected the research process. The
journey of discovering how researchers shaped and how they
were shaped by the research process and output is an iterative
and empowering process. More so when their positionality/ies
is/are challenged and the researchers acknowledge that
reflexivity should be recognized as a significant part of the
research findings” (Palaganas et al 2017).
reflexivity definitions

11. qualitative data
relativism
interpretivism – constructivism
qualitative
contextual - subjective
deep immersion & closeness
meaning
credible in-depth interpretation
understanding
realism
positivism / empiricism
quantitative
measurement - objective
critical validity & reliability
fact
replication & objectivity
generalisation
critical realism
experimental
mixed method
adaptive hybrid
flexible approach
interdisciplinary
PURIST PLURALIST POSITIVIST
spectrum of analytic
approaches
(adapted from Shulman 2016 & Lewins & Silver 2016)
analytic methods
caqdas-tools
reflexivity
reflection

12. qualitative data
realism
positivism / empiricism
quantitative
measurement - objective
critical validity & reliability
fact
replication & objectivity
generalisation
POSITIVIST
researchers always reflect
analytic methods
caqdas-tools
reflection

13. reflection involves thinking about all aspects of a project as part of the
methodological process
reflexivity is about being aware of, and examining, ourselves as researchers in
the research process, in particular the influence of our background and
assumptions in the interpretative process AND ALSO how doing the research
affects us
(Silver & Lewins, forthcoming)
the what of the
difference

14. the way I see it
reflection is ubiquitous in research
(some) qualitative researchers are reflexive as part of their
reflective practice
CAQDAS-packages are useful across the methodological
spectrum
CAQDAS-packages have a range of spaces where
reflections can be made (of any type, reflexive or not)

15. centrality of capturing
reflections in QDA
High-level Analytic Activities – commonality
amongst the diversity
Integration – Organisation – Exploration –
Interrogation - Reflection
https://www.qdaservices.co.u
k/post/analytic-activities-in-
qualitative-data-analysis-and-
how-they-are-facilitated-by-
caqdas-packages

16. the focus and form of
reflective practices in QDA
Reflect
Focus
Form
Researcher role
data
concepts
process
interpretations
link
write
map
Adapted from Silver & Lewins, 2014

17. caqdas-tools for capturing
reflections
linking
writing
mapping

18. linking in
caqdas-packages
well-being
meditation
disappointment
exercise

19. https://youtu.be/b9W8l_f0kiI

22. writing spaces in
caqdas-packages
memo, appraisal, summary
about the data source
well-being
annotation about /
definition of the link
memo / summary
of the code
annotation / definition
of the coded-segment
annotation of a
segment
meditation
annotation /
definition of the link
Free-standing
memo not
linked to
anything else

24. mapping in
caqdas-packages
mind mapping
concept mapping
mapping as interrogation
mapping as interpretation
mapping as presentation

25. mind mapping

26. integrated
concept mapping
Teachers’
definitions
of bullying
School
philosophy
Training
Teacher
demographics
Levels of
bullying
Adapted from Woolf & Silver, 2018
Bullying
episodes
Reactions to
bullying
Interventions
to prevent
bullying
Verbal
abuse
Physical
abuse
Cyber
bullying
Social
bullying
Identification
of leads to results in
“I was really very shocked when I
began teaching here and realized
the extent of bullying”
“the school governors are
looking at options to improve
the situation at the moment”
Context of bullying
(Naylor et al 2006)

27. mapping as interrogation
connections created through linking (incl. coding)
and classifying factual characteristics

30. mapping as interpretation

31. impact of the use of caqdas-
packages on reflective practice
and reflexivity (Woods et al 2015)
review 3 decades worth of literature on caqdas-use
‘reflexive moments’ experienced by caqdas-users
how caqdas can enhance or undermine researcher reflexivity

32. why it matters
Evidencing process
illustrating quality
sharing
teaching

33. references
• Berger R. (2015) Now I see it, now I don’t: Researcher’s position and reflexivity in qualitative research.
Qualitative Research, 15(2), 219-234
• Brown, N. (2019). “Listen to Your Gut”: A Reflexive Approach to Data Analysis. The Qualitative Report,
24(13), 31-43. Retrieved from https://nsuworks.nova.edu/tqr/vol24/iss13/4
• Finlay L (2002) “Outing” the Researcher: The Provenance, Process, and Practice of Reflexivity.
Qualitative Health Research. 12(4), 531-545
• Finlay, L & Gough B. (2003) Reflexivity a Practical Guide for Researchers in Health and Social Sciences.
Malden, MA: Blackwell Science
• Foley, D.E. (2002) Critical ethnography: The reflexive turn, International Journal of Qualitative Studies in
Education, 15:4, 469-490,
• Lumsden K (2019) Reflexivity: Theory, Method and Practice. Abingdon. Routledge
• Palaganas, E. C., Sanchez, M. C., Molintas, M. P., & Caricativo, R. D. (2017). Reflexivity in Qualitative
Research: A Journey of Learning. The Qualitative Report, 22(2), 426-438.
• Venkatesh S.A. (2013) The Reflexive Turn: The Rise of First-Person Ethnography, The Sociological
Quarterly, 54:1, 3-8,
• Woods, M, Macklin R, & Lewis G.K (2015): Researcher reflexivity: exploring the impacts of CAQDAS use,
International Journal of Social ResearchMethodology