Critical Reflection

Critical Reflection
What is Critical Reflection?
Reflection on experiences is a learning process, which allows the individual to analyse their
experience and achieve a purpose from it (Moon, 2004).
" …the throwing back of thoughts and memories, in cognitive acts such as thinking,
contemplation, meditation and any other form of attentive consideration, in order to make
sense of them, and to make contextually appropriate changes if they are required." (Taylor
2000)
Why Critical Reflection is important?
1. To develop the professional knowledge
2. To Become comfortable with the widening evidence base and range of sources that
inform practice.
3. To develop the communication with colleagues within and beyond your own
profession.
4. Critical reflection contributes to the ability of a professional to account for their
practice within current benchmarks and standards.
Models of reflection:
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Reflection models can help you to structure your reflection
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There is no right model (you can choose the one that feels most comfortable for you)
Model 1: Gibbs' Model
Model 2: Johns' Model
Johns used Barbara Carper’s patterns of knowing in his model (Carper 1978) which includes
the following:
• Aesthetics (the art of what we do)
• Personal (self-awareness)
• Ethics (moral knowledge)
• Empirics (scientific knowledge)
• Reflexivity (how does it connect with previous experiences)
Reflective Cue
Carper’s
knowledge
pattern
Bring the mind home
Focus on a description of an experience that seems significant in
some way
Aesthetics
What particular issues seem significant to pay attention to?
Aesthetics
How were others feeling and why did they feel that way?
Aesthetics
How was I feeling and why did I feel that way?
Personal
What was I trying to achieve and did I respond effectively?
Aesthetics
What were the consequences of my actions on the patient, others
and myself?
Aesthetics
What factors influence the way I was/am feeling, thinking and
responding to this situation? (personal, organisational,
professional, cultural)
Personal
What knowledge did or might have informed me?
Empirics
To what extent did I act for the best and in tune with my values?
Ethics
How does this situation connect with previous experiences?
Personal/Reflexivity
Given the situation again, how might I respond differently?
Reflexivity
What would be the consequences of responding in new ways for
the patient, others and myself?
Reflexivity
What factors might constrain me from responding in new ways?
Personal
How do I NOW feel about this experience?
Personal
Am I able to support myself and others better as a consequence?
Reflexivity
What insights have I gained? (framing perspectives)
Reflexivity
Am I more able to realise desirable practice? (Being available
template)
Reflective Questions:
The following is a set of questions that could be used to assist your thinking,
When you are writing up your reflection:
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What was I aiming for when I did that?
What exactly did I do? How would I describe it precisely?
Why did I choose that particular action?
What theories/models/research informed my actions?
What was I trying to achieve?
What did I do next?
What were the reasons for doing that?
How successful was it?
What criteria am I using to judge success?
What alternatives were there?
Could I have dealt with the situation any better?
How would I do it differently next time?
What do I feel about the whole experience?
What knowledge/values/skills were demonstrated?
How did the client feel about it?
How do I know the client felt like that?
What sense can I make of this in the light of my experience?
Has this changed the way in which I will do things in the future?
*Example of critical reflection will be given to each student in the first lecture