The rationality and objectivity of reflection in phenomenological research

This article focuses on the reflection of lived experience as a way to understand the meaning and essence of lived experience in phenomenological research. The importance of reflection as a key learning tool in professional research development is emphasized. We argue that good reflection should result in the interviewee, the researcher, and the reader sharing a common experience as to the meaning of a certain lived experience. Therefore, the role of a researcher is likened to a bridge on which the reader travels into the interviewee’s living world. To achieve this, we argue that reflection must be rational and objective. To explain how to achieve the rationality and objectivity of reflection, we have divided the paper into two parts. First, we provide a briefly explain reflection on lived experience. Then we discuss the importance of rationality and objectivity in reflection and how to achieve and present them in research. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2014