Reflect

How to Reflect

Many people including scientists and researchers learn from experience. To learn from experience, one has to reflect and record the thoughts following an experience. That is, one has to consciously think about how they could do better next time.

Feelings are subject to change in a very short period of time. Therefore, Reflection should be done immediately after an event.

The Reflect step described here is adapted from the Gibbs Reflective Cycle. You can use it to make sense of situations at work, so that you can understand what worked, what didn't and, what you could do better in the future.

Reflect: Mind Map

The reflect mind map allows the researcher to consider all aspects that should be included in a reflection process. It provides a powerful guideline as what questions to ask and then think over it.

Nursery method

Additionally, AsterWrite prompts a rubric for reflection through a Nursery method. A simple example is as follows. The Nursery method displays

  • Context - for example Introducing Myself.

  • Aspect - this is an idea that is normally expected for the context.

  • Explanation - explains what the Aspect is to the researcher for better understanding the Aspect.

  • Example - gives a sample Aspect.

  • Answer - this is added by the researcher. It is the description of the intended Aspect relevant to the Context.

  • When all the Aspect items are answered, AsterWrite synthesizes the Answer into a meaningful paragraph to contextualize Introducing Myself.

Description

First, think about your research in detail. At this stage, you simply want to recollect what happened – you'll draw conclusions later. Consider asking questions like these:

  • When and where did this happen?

  • Why were you there?

  • What did you do?

  • Who else was there?

  • What did they do?

  • What happened?

  • What was the outcome?

Feelings

What were you feeling at the time?

Think about what you thought and felt during the experience. Use questions like these to guide your thoughts:

  • Initial reaction: What did you feel before this situation?

  • Realization: What did you feel during the situation?

  • Realization: What do other people feel during this situation?

  • After reaction: What did you feel after the situation?

  • After reaction: What do others feel after the situation?

  • What do you think about the situation now?

  • What do other people think about the situation now?

  • Did your feelings change?

Evaluation

List points or tell the story about what was GOOD and what was BAD about the experience. Look objectively at what approaches worked, and what didn't. Ask:

  • What was positive about this situation?

  • What was negative?

  • What went well?

  • What went bad?

  • What did you or others do to affect the situation (positively or negatively)?

If appropriate, use a technique such as the 5 Whys to help you uncover the root cause of the issue.

Analysis

What analysis methods did you use?

  • What is the difference?

  • Compare the experience.

  • What sense can you make out of the situation.

  • What did you decide?

  • What is the implication?

Conclusion

What else could you have done? What should you perhaps not have done? Once you've evaluated the situation draw conclusions about what happened. Think about the situation again, using the information that you've collected so far. Then ask questions like these:

  • Look forward: How could this have been a more positive experience for everyone involved?

  • On hindsight: If you were faced with the same situation again, what would you do differently?

  • Can you be better? What skills do you need to better handle this type of situation?

  • Any regrets?

  • Last words.

Action

You should now have some possible actions that you (and your team members) can take to deal with similar situations more effectively in the future. In this last stage, you need to come up with a plan so that you can make these changes.