2024 S2 Reading Effectively and Creatively

A “Critical” Reflection Framework Why use critical reflection? Analysing a critical incident may help you to: • “reflect-on-action” (ie past experience), • “reflect-in-action” (ie as an incident happens), and • “reflect-for-action” (ie actions you may wish to take in future experiences) Often “reflection” and “critical reflection” are used inter-changeably in the literature. However, critical reflection denotes another level of reflection beyond what you might or might not cover in other forms of reflection (eg. diary, journal). Sometimes action is just “too hot” for us to consciously reflect-in-action (as the incident happens) (eg. Eraut, 1994). This is why a critical reflection framework may be better suited as it requires reflection in relation to past and future action. A default use of this technique and tool, particularly in “health”, is as a way of reflecting on “what was perceived to go wrong”. While this is a valid purpose, the scope of this framework has broader applications – namely as an appreciative form of inquiry. This framework of reflection starts from a basis of what has worked well and why. Critical reflection is an extension of “critical thinking”. It asks us to think about our practice and ideas and then it challenges us to step-back and examine our thinking by asking probing questions. It asks us to not only delve into the past and look at the present but importantly it asks us to speculate about the future and act. What theory underpins this form of reflection? Critical incident reflection sits well within the action research field or it can “stand-alone” as a learning method. While there is little agreement in the literature about what is reflective practice there does seem to be agreement that critical reflection can be taught to adults. John Flanagan, who founded the American Institutes for Research in 1946, introduced critical incident reflection. He set out a 20 year plan to improve the effectiveness of organisations and their leaders. His strategy: • To formulate problems in general terms so that they could apply findings to a broad class of issues; • To emphasise new research methods to be of central importance; • To develop “the critical incident technique” to identify contributing factors to the success or failure in specific situations. Critical incident reflection is used in health, for example, seeking patient views and in multiand inter-disciplinary team situations. How can critical incident reflection be used? Critical incidents can be either positive or negative; an interesting interaction or an ordinary everyday occurrence. Sometimes, depending on the focus and the “rawness” of a critical incident, it may feel uncomfortable to undertake a critical reflection because it highlights our assumptions, views and behaviours