Metareflexiv

Metareflexiv is a term used in discussions of reflexivity to denote a higher-order or meta-level reflexivity—an analysis of how reflexive practices themselves are produced, justified, and constrained. The concept appears across disciplines such as philosophy of language, sociology, anthropology, and cognitive science and is used to describe discourse or inquiry that reflects on the conditions and effects of reflexivity rather than merely performing reflexive action.

Etymology and usage: The word combines meta- (beyond, about) with reflexive (referring to itself). Variants include metareflexive and metareflexivity, and some writers spell the term metareflexiv. There is no universally standardized definition, and the term is largely descriptive, marking a particular stance or mode of analysis rather than a fixed theory.

Applications: In qualitative research, metareflexiv analysis calls for researchers to consider how their own positionality, methods, and the research context shape reflexive accounts. In discourse analysis or linguistics, metareflexiv texts may self-reference their own referential or argumentative processes, signaling awareness of how language refers to itself. In philosophy or social theory, the concept can be used to examine the limits and conditions under which reflexive claims are made.

Relation to related concepts: Metareflexiv is related to reflexivity, metacognition, self-reference, and meta-analysis. It helps distinguish an awareness of reflexive practice from everyday reflexive talk, offering a framework for evaluating the conditions under which reflexivity occurs.

Limitations: The term remains informal and may be used variably; readers should check how a specific author defines metareflexiv in their work.