The Review of Theoretical Sensitivity and Reflexivity Concepts in Qualitative Research

A qualitative research is based on a series of fundamental principles and basic concepts. The two main concepts in designing and theory development are theoretical sensitivity and reflexivity that have not been sufficiently addressed in Persian sources. Thus, this study was conducted to clarify and explain these concepts.
In this review study, the libraries and electronic documents across various sites and databases including Science Direct, PubMed, Ovid, Wiley Online Library, and Google Scholar were searched for keywords of reflexivity, reflexive, sensitivity, sensitive, and theoretical sensitivity. Inclusion criteria included all open access texts contained the before-mentioned keywords in the title, written in English language and published in 2010 and later. After excluding irrelevant, duplicate, and non-accessible texts, 16 articles and 11 books were obtained.
The results showed that literature investigated issues such as definitions of these concepts, theoretical sensitivity sources and ways to improve it, the importance of reflexivity, its scope and improvement methods, reflexivity and morality, and the report of reflexivity.
The theoretical sensitivity refers to the researcher characteristics such as insight and skills to make data meaningful, perception and analysis of relevant elements from irrelevant elements that must be followed as a matter of principle in all steps of the research. Paying attention to reflexivity increases the quality of the research processes and results, and also increases researcher's sensitivity to the participants.