Is reflection like soap? a critical narrative umbrella review of approaches to reflection in medical education research

Sven P.C. Schaepkens, M. Veen, A. de la Croix

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articleAcademicpeer-review

18 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Reflection is a complex concept in medical education research. No consensus exists on what reflection exactly entails; thus far, cross-comparing empirical findings has not resulted in definite evidence on how to foster reflection. The concept is as slippery as soap. This leaves the research field with the question, ‘how can research approach the conceptual indeterminacy of reflection to produce knowledge?’. The authors conducted a critical narrative umbrella review of research on reflection in medical education. Forty-seven review studies on reflection research from 2000 onwards were reviewed. The authors used the foundational literature on reflection from Dewey and Schön as an analytical lens to identify and critically juxtapose common approaches in reflection research that tackle the conceptual complexity. Research on reflection must deal with the paradox that every conceptualization of reflection is either too sharp or too broad because it is entrenched in practice. The key to conceptualizing reflection lies in its use and purpose, which can be provided by in situ research of reflective practices.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)537-551
Number of pages15
JournalAdvances in Health Sciences Education
Volume27
Issue number2
Early online date12 Nov 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2022

Keywords

  • Critical narrative umbrella review
  • Philosophy
  • Reflection
  • Technicist and dynamic
  • Theory and practice

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