Refining the measurement of human reflexivity: building on Archer's Internal Conversation Indicator (ICONI)

Abstract

This article presents new quantitative measures of the modes of reflexivity identified by Margaret Archer (2003), addressing measurement limitations of Archer’s Internal Conversation Indicator (ICONI). Despite the widespread theoretical and empirical application of Archer's reflexivity framework, quantitative studies remain limited, and there is evidence of validity issues with Archer's original ICONI instrument. Operationalizing our alternative definition of reflexivity, this article presents results from a study that developed and validated alternative reflexivity measurement scales that demonstrated significant success in measuring meta-reflexivity and fractured reflexivity. While our communicative and autonomous reflexivity measures require further refinement, the valid measures of meta and fractured reflexivity demonstrate that quantifying human reflexivity is feasible and worthwhile. These findings establish a more robust empirical foundation for future research examining the correlates and implications of different modes of reflexivity, advancing our understanding of this important dimension of human agency.