Jon Dean is a senior lecturer in politics and sociology at Sheffield Hallam University. His research focuses on the voluntary sector and charitable giving, with a particular interest in inequalities within the charity sphere, especially around social class and youth participation. He also works in the field of homelessness, and the representation of need in fundraising appeals.

• Introduction: a rationale for reflexivity;Pierre Bourdieu and the development of theory;Putting yourself in? Bourdieu's reflexive project;Standpoints, disciplines, spaces;Reflexivity in the field: four case studies;Desert Island discourses: doing a parallel analysis;The reflexive me;Conclusions;Coda: writing in the social sciences.

"This engaging and readable text offers invaluable help for any social science researchers grappling with reflexivity." Helen Kara, We Research It "Provides a framework of how to conceptualise reflexivity and its successful integration into one's own research... particularly recommended for students and early career researchers who seek to contextualise and understand their 'identities' in the research process." Dr Eric Baumgartner, Teeside University "An essential guide for working sociologists; it not only provides a clear theoretical and empirical exploration of the concept and practice of reflexivity, but also provides opportunities to recognise how far we ourselves already do reflexivity and how we can use it to improve our research and teaching practices." Mark Taylor, University of Sheffield

Jon Dean is a senior lecturer in politics and sociology at Sheffield Hallam University. His research focuses on the voluntary sector and charitable giving, with a particular interest in inequalities within the charity sphere, especially around social class and youth participation. He also works in the field of homelessness, and the representation of need in fundraising appeals.

• Introduction: a rationale for reflexivity;Pierre Bourdieu and the development of theory;Putting yourself in? Bourdieu's reflexive project;Standpoints, disciplines, spaces;Reflexivity in the field: four case studies;Desert Island discourses: doing a parallel analysis;The reflexive me;Conclusions;Coda: writing in the social sciences.

"This engaging and readable text offers invaluable help for any social science researchers grappling with reflexivity." Helen Kara, We Research It "Provides a framework of how to conceptualise reflexivity and its successful integration into one's own research... particularly recommended for students and early career researchers who seek to contextualise and understand their 'identities' in the research process." Dr Eric Baumgartner, Teeside University "An essential guide for working sociologists; it not only provides a clear theoretical and empirical exploration of the concept and practice of reflexivity, but also provides opportunities to recognise how far we ourselves already do reflexivity and how we can use it to improve our research and teaching practices." Mark Taylor, University of Sheffield

Jon Dean is a senior lecturer in politics and sociology at Sheffield Hallam University. His research focuses on the voluntary sector and charitable giving, with a particular interest in inequalities within the charity sphere, especially around social class and youth participation. He also works in the field of homelessness, and the representation of need in fundraising appeals.

• Introduction: a rationale for reflexivity;Pierre Bourdieu and the development of theory;Putting yourself in? Bourdieu's reflexive project;Standpoints, disciplines, spaces;Reflexivity in the field: four case studies;Desert Island discourses: doing a parallel analysis;The reflexive me;Conclusions;Coda: writing in the social sciences.

"This engaging and readable text offers invaluable help for any social science researchers grappling with reflexivity." Helen Kara, We Research It "Provides a framework of how to conceptualise reflexivity and its successful integration into one's own research... particularly recommended for students and early career researchers who seek to contextualise and understand their 'identities' in the research process." Dr Eric Baumgartner, Teeside University "An essential guide for working sociologists; it not only provides a clear theoretical and empirical exploration of the concept and practice of reflexivity, but also provides opportunities to recognise how far we ourselves already do reflexivity and how we can use it to improve our research and teaching practices." Mark Taylor, University of Sheffield