Reflective Practice Principles
Expert-defined terms from the International Certificate in Reflective Practice course at London School of Planning and Management. Free to read, free to share, paired with a professional course.
Action Learning – A problem‑solving approach where a small group works on… #
Related terms: Team learning, facilitator, learning set. Example: A health‑care team tackles patient flow bottlenecks, reflecting after each cycle. Practical application includes rotating the facilitator role to build confidence. Challenge: Maintaining focus on learning outcomes rather than merely fixing the problem.
Appreciative Inquiry – A strengths‑based methodology that explores what w… #
Related terms: 4‑D cycle (Discover, Dream, Design, Destiny), positive core. Example: A school conducts interviews with teachers about successful lessons to co‑create a professional development plan. Practical use encourages optimism, but the challenge lies in avoiding superficial praise and ensuring critical issues are not ignored.
Autobiographical Reflection – A narrative practice where the practitioner… #
Related terms: Reflective journal, life story, identity work. Example: A social worker drafts a timeline of key career moments to identify patterns of empathy. Practical application supports deep self‑knowledge; challenge includes confronting uncomfortable memories that may trigger emotional distress.
Benchmarking – The systematic comparison of one’s reflective practice out… #
Related terms: Best practice, performance indicator. Example: A nursing educator compares reflective essay scores against national accreditation criteria. Practically, benchmarking highlights gaps and drives improvement; however, differences in context can make direct comparison misleading.
Cognitive Dissonance – The mental discomfort experienced when new reflect… #
Related terms: Belief revision, mental tension. Example: A manager realises that a previously praised leadership style undermines team autonomy. In practice, recognizing dissonance can catalyse growth, but the challenge is managing resistance and avoiding defensive rationalisation.
Constructivist Theory – A learning paradigm asserting that individuals co… #
Related terms: Schema, experiential learning. Example: A teacher designs a project‑based module where learners iteratively revise their models. Practical application aligns with reflective practice by valuing personal meaning‑making; challenge is providing sufficient scaffolding for novices.
Critical Incident – A significant event that triggers intense reflection… #
Related terms: Incident analysis, debrief. Example: A pharmacist encounters a medication error that almost harms a patient. The incident becomes a case study for group reflection, fostering safety culture. The challenge is ensuring emotional safety while analysing the incident objectively.
Critical Reflection – Deep analysis that questions underlying assumptions… #
Related terms: Reflexivity, transformative learning. Example: A teacher examines how curriculum choices may marginalise minority voices. Practical use promotes social justice; challenge includes confronting entrenched institutional norms.
Dialogue – An intentional, open conversation that facilitates mutual unde… #
Related terms: Conversational practice, listening skills. Example: A multidisciplinary team uses a structured dialogue format to discuss patient‑centred goals. Dialogue nurtures collective reflection, yet power imbalances can silence less senior participants if not carefully managed.
Double‑Loop Learning – A learning process that not only corrects errors (… #
Related terms: Organisational learning, mental models. Example: After a failed project, a team revisits its decision‑making framework rather than merely fixing the missed deadline. Practical benefit is systemic change; challenge is resistance from leadership accustomed to surface‑level fixes.
Emotional Intelligence – The capacity to recognise, understand, and manag… #
Related terms: Self‑awareness, empathy. Example: A therapist uses EI to navigate a client’s intense grief while maintaining professional boundaries. In reflective practice, EI underpins honest self‑assessment; challenge is developing EI in cultures that undervalue emotional expression.
Empathy Mapping – A visual tool that captures what a person says, thinks,… #
Related terms: User persona, stakeholder analysis. Example: A design team creates an empathy map of learners to inform reflective activities. Practical use sharpens perspective‑taking, yet the challenge is avoiding assumptions that oversimplify complex experiences.
Experiential Learning – Learning through direct experience followed by re… #
Related terms: Kolb cycle, hands‑on practice. Example: A medical student performs a simulated surgery, then debriefs with peers. The cycle reinforces skill acquisition; challenge is allocating adequate time for reflection amidst busy curricula.
Feedback Loop – A process where information about performance is returned… #
Related terms: Formative feedback, feed‑forward. Example: After a presentation, an instructor provides targeted comments that the learner integrates into the next session. Practical benefit is continuous refinement; challenge is ensuring feedback is specific, constructive, and not perceived as punitive.
Guided Reflection – Structured reflection facilitated by prompts, questio… #
Related terms: Reflective prompts, coaching. Example: A mentor asks a nurse “What assumptions guided your hand‑washing decision?” To uncover habit patterns. This method accelerates learning, yet over‑guidance may limit authentic self‑discovery.
Holistic Reflection – An integrative approach that considers cognitive, e… #
Related terms: Whole‑person, integrative practice. Example: A teacher reflects on lesson outcomes, student emotions, classroom dynamics, and personal values. Holistic reflection yields richer learning; challenge is the time required to address multiple layers.
Internal Dialogue – The inner conversation that shapes interpretation of… #
Related terms: Self‑talk, metacognition. Example: After a difficult client interaction, a counsellor notes the inner critique “I should have listened better.” Recognising internal dialogue can re‑frame self‑assessment; challenge is distinguishing productive self‑questioning from harsh self‑judgement.
Journal Keeping – The regular recording of thoughts, feelings, and observ… #
Related terms: Reflective diary, logbook. Example: A teacher writes weekly entries on classroom successes and setbacks. Journals create a searchable evidence base; challenge includes maintaining consistency and resisting superficial entries.
Learning Contract – A written agreement outlining reflective goals, strat… #
Related terms: Personal development plan, goal setting. Example: A trainee psychologist signs a contract to complete three reflective case analyses by semester end. Contracts increase accountability; challenge is ensuring contracts remain flexible to emerging learning needs.
Metacognition – Awareness and regulation of one’s own thinking processes #
Related terms: Thinking about thinking, self‑regulation. Example: A student pauses to ask, “What strategy am I using to solve this problem?” Metacognition strengthens reflective depth; challenge lies in teaching learners to monitor thoughts without becoming overly analytical.
Narrative Inquiry – A research method that explores lived experiences thr… #
Related terms: Story analysis, phenomenology. Example: A researcher collects nurses’ narratives about end‑of‑life care to identify common ethical dilemmas. Narrative inquiry uncovers hidden meanings; challenge includes ensuring participant confidentiality and avoiding researcher bias.
Peer Coaching – A reciprocal relationship where colleagues support each o… #
Related terms: Buddy system, collaborative learning. Example: Two teachers alternate roles as coach and coachee, discussing lesson plans. Peer coaching democratises expertise, yet power differentials can impede honest dialogue if not addressed.
Reflective Cycle – The systematic sequence of description, analysis, and… #
Related terms: Gibbs model, Rolfe framework. Example: After a workshop, a facilitator follows the cycle: Describe what happened, analyse feelings, plan improvements. The cycle provides clarity; challenge is preventing it from becoming a rigid checklist.
Reflective Journaling – The practice of writing reflective entries that i… #
Related terms: Journal keeping, reflective writing. Example: A social worker records a client encounter, explores personal reactions, and outlines next steps. Journaling deepens insight; challenge is avoiding vague or descriptive‑only entries.
Reflective Practice – The deliberate process of examining one’s actions a… #
Related terms: Self‑assessment, continuous improvement. Example: A teacher reviews a lesson video, notes strengths, and sets a target to increase student questioning. Reflective practice sustains growth; challenge is embedding it into busy work routines.
Reflective Supervision – A structured supervisory relationship that focus… #
Related terms: Clinical supervision, mentorship. Example: A senior therapist guides a junior colleague through reflective questions about case management. This model nurtures professional identity; challenge includes balancing accountability with reflective space.
Reflective Team – A group of practitioners who collectively engage in ref… #
Related terms: Learning community, peer reflection. Example: An interdisciplinary ward holds a weekly reflective team meeting to discuss patient safety incidents. Collective reflection amplifies diverse perspectives; challenge is managing time constraints and ensuring psychological safety.
Reflexivity – The ongoing examination of how one’s positionality, biases,… #
Related terms: Self‑critique, positionality. Example: A researcher notes how their cultural background shapes interview questions. Reflexivity guards against hidden assumptions; challenge is sustaining honest self‑scrutiny over time.
Self‑Assessment – The systematic evaluation of one’s own competencies, of… #
Related terms: Self‑evaluation, competency framework. Example: A teacher rates their lesson planning against a national standard. Self‑assessment encourages ownership; challenge is overcoming inflated self‑ratings without external validation.
Self‑Efficacy – Belief in one’s capability to execute tasks and achieve g… #
Related terms: Confidence, mastery expectancy. Example: A trainee nurse feels confident to administer medication after reflective practice confirms competence. High self‑efficacy boosts motivation; challenge is ensuring beliefs are based on accurate evidence rather than overconfidence.
Self‑Reflection – The personal act of looking inward to examine thoughts,… #
Related terms: Introspection, personal insight. Example: After a heated meeting, an employee asks, “What triggered my defensiveness?” Self‑reflection cultivates growth; challenge is confronting uncomfortable truths without external support.
Socratic Questioning – A disciplined method of inquiry that uses probing… #
Related terms: Critical questioning, dialogue technique. Example: A mentor asks, “What evidence supports your conclusion?” To deepen a practitioner’s reflective analysis. This technique sharpens reasoning; challenge is maintaining a supportive tone to avoid intimidation.
Spiral Curriculum – An educational design where concepts are revisited at… #
Related terms: Iterative learning, progressive depth. Example: Reflective practice is introduced in novice modules, then revisited with advanced case studies later. The spiral reinforces retention; challenge is ensuring each revisit adds substantive new insight.
Stakeholder Analysis – The systematic identification and examination of i… #
Related terms: Interest mapping, power‑interest grid. Example: Before redesigning a community health program, a facilitator maps patients, providers, funders, and regulators. Reflective practice benefits from stakeholder awareness; challenge is balancing conflicting priorities.
Structured Debrief – A facilitated discussion that follows a set framewor… #
Related terms: Debriefing model, after‑action review. Example: After a simulation, a facilitator uses the “What? So what? Now what?” Model to guide reflection. Structured debriefs ensure depth; challenge is preventing the discussion from becoming perfunctory.
Summative Reflection – A final evaluative reflection that synthesises lea… #
Related terms: Capstone reflection, outcome assessment. Example: A graduate submits a reflective essay summarising key professional growth over the course. Summative reflection demonstrates achievement; challenge is avoiding hindsight bias that oversimplifies complex journeys.
Thematic Analysis – A method for identifying, analysing, and reporting pa… #
Related terms: Coding, pattern recognition. Example: A researcher codes 30 reflective journals to uncover common themes about ethical dilemmas. The analysis creates transferable insights; challenge includes maintaining rigor and avoiding over‑generalisation.
Transformative Learning – A deep learning process where individuals criti… #
Related terms: Perspective transformation, disorienting dilemma. Example: A teacher confronts systemic inequities, leading to a re‑orientation of pedagogical philosophy. Transformative learning fuels lasting change; challenge is sustaining the new perspective amidst entrenched structures.
Validity – The degree to which a reflective instrument accurately capture… #
Related terms: Reliability, measurement accuracy. Example: A reflective questionnaire is piloted to ensure it truly measures critical thinking. Valid tools strengthen evidence; challenge is achieving validity across diverse cultural contexts.
Values Clarification – An exercise that helps practitioners articulate an… #
Related terms: Ethical alignment, value hierarchy. Example: A clinician lists values such as autonomy, beneficence, and cultural sensitivity, then ranks them to guide decision‑making. Clarification aligns actions with beliefs; challenge is negotiating value conflicts in real‑world scenarios.
Visioning – The process of imagining an aspirational future state to guid… #
Related terms: Future‑focused planning, strategic foresight. Example: A team visualises a patient‑centred care model, then reflects on current gaps. Visioning inspires motivation; challenge is translating abstract visions into concrete steps.
Witnessing – The act of attentively observing another’s reflective sharin… #
Related terms: Active listening, presence. Example: In a reflective circle, a participant simply listens as a colleague narrates a challenging case. Witnessing validates the speaker; challenge is resisting the urge to interject with advice prematurely.
Zone of Proximal Development – Vygotskian concept describing the gap betw… #
Related terms: Scaffolding, assisted performance. Example: A novice therapist reflects on a session with a mentor’s prompts, achieving insights beyond solo capability. Recognising the zone informs targeted reflective support; challenge is providing appropriate levels of assistance without fostering dependence.