SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “reflection”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

PubMed2001

Monitoring regional vegetation change using reflectance measurements from multiple solar zenith angles.

Many traditional models of vegetation canopy reflectance have commonly used one of two approaches. Either the canopy is assumed to consist of discrete objects of known reflectance and geometric-optics are then used to calculate shading effects, or, as in the turbid medium approach, the canopy is treated as a horizontally homogeneous layer of small elements of known optical properties and radiative transfer theory is used to calculate canopy reflectance. This paper examines the effect of solar zenith angle on the reflectance of red and near-infrared radiation from forests using a combination of these modelling approaches. Forests are first modelled as randomly spaced eucalypt crowns over a homogeneous understorey and the fractional coverage of four components: shaded and sunlit canopy and shaded and sunlit understorey are calculated. Reflectance from each fraction is then modelled for a range of solar zenith angles using the Verhoef SAIL model. The overall scene reflection as seen by a nadir viewing satellite sensor is compared for three forest types representing a gradient of crown density from open dry grassy woodlands to dense wetter closed forest with an understorey of mesophytic plants. Modelled trends in scene reflectance change are consistent with aircraft measurements carried out at three different solar zenith angles. Results indicate that an increase in both tree density and solar zenith angle leads to an increase in the dominance of shaded components. In the visible band, both the sparsely treed woodland and the medium density dry forest show similar trends to that predicted by a turbid medium model, however, the wet forest shows a less rapid decrease in reflectance with solar zenith angle. In the near-infrared band, as tree density increases from woodland to wet forest, overall scene reflectance shows increased departure from that modelled using the traditional assumption of smooth homogeneous canopies, changing from an increase with solar zenith angle for the woodland to a decrease with solar zenith angle for the forest types.

Ecosystem↗

PubMed1998

Keeping a reflective practice diary: a practical guide.

Reflective practice aims to enhance client care via the professional development and growing expertise of practitioners. This paper offers practical guidelines for writing diaries that may form the basis for reflective practice, while acknowledging the skills that practitioners already use to examine their nursing actions and interactions. There is an emphasis on the outcomes of reflection as well as the reflections themselves, as this is seen as important if professional development is to be recognized and clients benefit. Time constraints that may make frequent formal reflection difficult are recognized by the format that allows deeper reflection where time permits and as skills develop. While ideas presented have been influenced by the literature on reflection, the paper owes as much to the continuing education students of the Homerton School of Health Studies who studied the reflective practice module during 1996. Without listening to their discussions, becoming aware of their difficulties and sharing their growing ability to reflect on practice, this article would not have been possible.

Clinical Competence↗

PubMed1999

Reflective properties of different eyespot types in dinoflagellates.

The reflective properties of different types of dinoflagellate eyespots were investigated using confocal laser scanning microscopy in the epireflection contrast mode. Although the eyespots studied differed with respect to localization (cytosol or plastid) and organization of the globule layer(s), all types effectively absorbed and reflected blue-green laser light (principal lines of 488/514 nm). The relative orientation of the eyespot surface towards the light source strongly influenced the reflective properties. Maximal reflection occurred when the eyespot surface was approximately perpendicular to the light source and rapidly decreased at increasing angles of light incidence. Horizontal and vertical optical sectioning of live and fixed cells resolved differences in the reflection patterns. Focusing of reflected light on the basal portion of the longitudinal flagellum was observed for the cytosolic eyespot of Glenodinium sp. and the triple membrane-bounded eyespot of Peridinium foliaceum, presumably a vestige of a host plastid. This flagellum is thought to be mainly involved in mediating orientational movement responses. In contrast, the reflection patterns obtained from the eyespot of Woloszynskia pascheri, which represents the third and most commonly observed dinoflagellate eyespot type within a plastid, point to only minor focusing. Reflection signals could be followed a considerable distance into the sulcus in all cases, indicating that in dinoflagellate eyespots, irrespective of the presumed receptor location (plasma membrane overlying the eyespot and/or the basal part of the longitudinal flagellum), back reflection of non-absorbed light can enhance the excitation probability of the photoreceptor(s). Such a combined reflection/absorption screen allows maximal contrast modulation and will, in conjunction with the specialized geometry of the dinoflagellate eyespots, increase the directionality of these eyespot aparatuses considerably.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Unravelling the unknowns of reflection in classroom teaching.

BACKGROUND: The use of reflection in education has emerged as an effective means of connecting theory with practice. However, the literature reveals limited empirical work on the conceptualization of reflection. AIM OF THE STUDY: The purpose of this qualitative research study was to understand more fully the meaning and use of reflection in teaching, and how reflection contributes to the development of teaching expertise in the classroom. Ethical approval. The study received ethical approval from the Faculty of Nursing Ethical Review Committee, University of Manitoba. Issues related to confidentiality of information, and power relationships between the investigators were addressed. Students were reassured that no data were collected about them during participant observations in the classrooms. METHODS: The investigators were the sources of data. Data were collected using five different methods over the course of two academic years, including written autobiographies, critical incident journals, classroom observations, debriefing following classroom observations and research team meetings. FINDINGS: The data were analysed using content analysis, and four themes were identified (i) making connections, (ii) developmental aspects, (iii) influence of context on reflection, and (iv) influence of emotions on reflection. Study limitations. The interpretation of the findings of this study should be used with caution given the qualitative design and small number of participants. CONCLUSION: Participation in the study increased the awareness of the investigators' personal use of reflection. The process of studying our own use of reflection allowed us to step outside the performance treadmill to better understand, accept and reshape what we do over and over in the classroom. This study supports an examination of one's experiences as a means of understanding reflection and its use in the classroom.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

PubMed2004

Promoting cognitive and metacognitive reflective reasoning skills in nursing practice: self-regulated learning theory.

BACKGROUND: Effective clinical reasoning in nursing practice depends on the development of both cognitive and metacognitive skills. While a number of strategies have been implemented and tested to promote these skills, educators have not been able consistently to predict their development. Self-regulated learning theory suggests that this development requires concurrent attention to both the cognitive and metacognitive dimensions of reasoning in nursing care contexts. AIMS: This paper reports on a study to explore the impact of self-regulated learning theory on reflective practice in nursing, and to advance the idea that both cognitive and metacognitive skills support the development of clinical reasoning skills. METHODS: Integrative review of published literature in social science, educational psychology, nursing education, and professional education using the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health (CINAHL), Educational Resource Information Center (ERIC), and American Psychological Association (PsychInfo) Databases. The search included all English language articles with the key words clinical reasoning, cognition, critical thinking, metacognition, reflection, reflective practice, self-regulation and thinking. FINDINGS: Reflective clinical reasoning in nursing practice depends on the development of both cognitive and metacognitive skill acquisition. This skill acquisition is best accomplished through teaching-learning attention to self-regulation learning theory. A critical analysis of the literature in the areas of critical thinking and reflective practice are described as a background for contemporary work with self-regulated learning theory. It is apparent that single-minded attention to critical thinking, without attention to the influence of metacognition or reflection, is but one perspective on clinical reasoning development. Likewise, single-minded attention to metacognition or reflection, without attention to the influence of critical thinking, is another perspective on clinical reasoning development. While strategies to facilitate critical thinking and reflective practice have been used in isolation from each other, there is evidence to suggest that they are inextricably linked and come together with the use of self-regulated learning prompts. CONCLUSIONS: Students and practising nurses are able to improve their cognitive and metacognitive skills in clinical contexts by using self-regulated learning strategies. The self-regulated learning model in nursing is offered to support teaching and learning of reflective clinical reasoning in nursing practice contexts.

Clinical Competence↗

PubMed2004

Assessing student reflection in medical practice. The development of an observer-rated instrument: reliability, validity and initial experiences.

INTRODUCTION: This study describes the development of an instrument to measure the ability of medical students to reflect on their performance in medical practice. METHODS: A total of 195 Year 4 medical students attending a 9-hour clinical ethics course filled in a semi-structured questionnaire consisting of reflection-evoking case vignettes. Two independent raters scored their answers. Respondents were scored on a 10-point scale for overall reflection score and on a scale of 0-2 for the extent to which they mentioned a series of perspectives in their reflections. We analysed the distribution of scores, the internal validity and the effect of being pre-tested with an alternate form of the test on the scores. The relationships between overall reflection score and perspective score, and between overall reflection score and gender, career preference and work experience were also calculated. RESULTS: The interrater reliability was sufficient. The range of scores on overall reflection was large (1-10), with a mean reflection score of 4.5-4.7 for each case vignette. This means that only 1 or 2 perspectives were mentioned, and hardly any weighing of perspectives took place. The values over the 2 measurements were comparable and were strongly related. Women had slightly higher scores than men, as had students with work experience in health care, and students considering general practice as a career. CONCLUSIONS: Reflection in medical practice can be measured using this semistructured questionnaire built on case vignettes. The mean score allows for the measurement of improvement by future educational efforts. The wide range of individual differences allows for comparisons between groups. The differences found between groups of students were as expected and support the validity of the instrument.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Implication of the anatomy of the pericardial reflection on positioning of central venous catheters.

OBJECTIVE: Central venous catheterization is associated with a significant incidence of complications (5%-20%). The incidence of perforation is approximately 0.25% to 0.4%. To prevent cardiac tamponade associated with a high risk of death, Food and Drug Administration guidelines state that the tip of a central venous catheter (CVC) should not be placed in, or allowed to migrate into, the heart. Therefore, in order to prevent cardiac tamponade, a catheter should be placed above the pericardial reflection. Thus, the intrapericardial length of the superior vena cava (SVC) was studied. Neither the pericardial reflection nor the exact entrance to the right atrium (RA) can be identified by chest x-ray. The goal of this study was to evaluate the variability of the intrapericardial section in relation to the SVC. DESIGN: Observational study. INTERVENTIONS: The absolute length of the SVC, the upper edge of the pericardial reflection on the SVC, and the lateral and the medial intrapericardial sections of the SVC were recorded and statistically analyzed. SETTING: Medical school: dissecting room at the Department of Anatomy. STUDY POPULATION: Eighteen formalin-preserved adult cadavers. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The median lengths measured were as follows: total SVC, 61 mm; intrapericardial section of the medial SVC, 32.5 mm; and lateral SVC, 20.5 mm. The intrapericardial section was related to the total length of the SVC on both sides (Spearman rank order, p < 0.05). The median difference of the SVC covered with pericardium between the lateral and medial side was 11 mm (range, 5-21). In 15 of 18 cadavers, the pericardial reflection ran within the medial third of the SVC. The lower third of the SVC was regularly covered by the pericardium. The duplication of the pericardium crossed the SVC in the medial third at a diagonal to horizontal angle. CONCLUSIONS: Catheters ending below the pericardial reflection, hence positioned in the caudal third of the SVC, are likely to run along the long axis of the vein and the risk for perforation is minimized. Therefore, the authors recommend placing all catheters below the pericardial reflection. According to the present data, CVCs placed approximately 30 mm above the RA border, thus complying with the Food and Drug Administration guidelines, still may have their tips positioned below the pericardial reflection. In this position, pericardial tamponade still may occur. Perforation above the pericardial reflection will result in a hemo- or hydrothorax/mediastinum. A bedside method to determine the position of the CVC with respect to the pericardial reflection (eg, electrocardiographic guidance) should be used.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Potential theory for shock reflection by a large-angle wedge.

When a plane shock hits a wedge head on, it experiences a reflection, and then a self-similar reflected shock moves outward as the original shock moves forward in time. Experimental, computational, and asymptotic analysis has shown that various patterns of reflected shocks may occur, including regular and Mach reflection. However, most fundamental issues for shock reflection phenomena have not been understood, such as the transition among the different patterns of shock reflection; therefore, it is essential to establish a global existence and stability theory for shock reflection. On the other hand, there has been no rigorous mathematical result on the global existence and stability of solutions to shock reflection, especially for potential flow, which has widely been used in aerodynamics. The theoretical problems involve several challenging difficulties in the analysis of nonlinear partial differential equations including elliptic-hyperbolic mixed type, free-boundary problems, and corner singularity, especially when an elliptic degenerate curve meets a free boundary. Here we develop a potential theory to overcome these difficulties and to establish the global existence and stability of solutions to shock reflection by a large-angle wedge for potential flow. The techniques and ideas developed will be useful to other nonlinear problems involving similar difficulties.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2006

Portfolio as a tool to stimulate teachers' reflections.

Portfolios are increasingly being used to stimulate teachers' reflections. Frameworks for reflection on teaching often emphasize competencies and behaviours. However, other aspects of teacher functioning are also important, such as the teaching environment and individual teachers' beliefs, professional identity and mission. In a study among five medical school teachers, we explored how a portfolio stimulated reflections on the various aspects of teaching functioning. Outcomes of written portfolio assignments were collected and analysed to identify examples of reflections on the various aspects of teacher functioning. Examples of reflections on all aspects of teacher functioning were found, although examples of reflections on competencies were easier to find than those on beliefs, identity and mission. This study might help teachers and their trainers and coaches to recognize different aspects of teacher functioning when discussing portfolios for professional development purposes. However, further development of assignments and other methods to stimulate reflections on beliefs, identity and mission are needed. Furthermore, apart from the content of teachers' reflections, teachers' reflection processes should be researched, as well as the effects of portfolio meetings with peers and coaches.

Education, Medical↗

PubMed2005

Site-specific ultrasound reflection properties and superficial collagen content of bovine knee articular cartilage.

Previous quantitative 2D-ultrasound imaging studies have demonstrated that the ultrasound reflection measurement of articular cartilage surface sensitively detects degradation of the collagen network, whereas digestion of cartilage proteoglycans has no significant effect on the ultrasound reflection. In this study, the first aim was to characterize the ability of quantitative 2D-ultrasound imaging to detect site-specific differences in ultrasound reflection and backscattering properties of cartilage surface and cartilage-bone interface at visually healthy bovine knee (n = 30). As a second aim, we studied factors controlling ultrasound reflection properties of an intact cartilage surface. The ultrasound reflection coefficient was determined in time (R) and frequency domains (IRC) at medial femoral condyle, lateral patello-femoral groove, medial tibial plateau and patella using a 20 MHz ultrasound imaging instrument. Furthermore, cartilage surface roughness was quantified by calculating the ultrasound roughness index (URI). The superficial collagen content of the cartilage was determined using a FT-IRIS-technique. A significant site-dependent variation was shown in cartilage thickness, ultrasound reflection parameters, URI and superficial collagen content. As compared to R and IRC, URI was a more sensitive parameter in detecting differences between the measurement sites. Ultrasound reflection parameters were not significantly related to superficial collagen content, whereas the correlation between R and URI was high. Ultrasound reflection at the cartilage-bone interface showed insignificant site-dependent variation. The current results suggest that ultrasound reflection from the intact cartilage surface is mainly dependent on the cartilage surface roughness and the collagen content has a less significant role.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

A theoretical analysis of the influence of heterogeneity in chlorophyll distribution on leaf reflectance.

Attempts to determine the vitality of vegetation and to detect vegetation stress from remotely sensed data have focused on chlorophyll concentration, because it influences the reflectance of vegetation and tends to correlate with vegetation health and stress. Pollution, pathogens and pests can cause localized regions of chlorosis and necrosis across a leaf surface, but the extent to which these patches influence the overall reflectance and spectral signature of the leaf and canopy has not been tested. A conifer leaf model (LIBERTY), which simulates the influence of leaf biochemical concentrations of chlorophyll, water, lignin, cellulose and protein on the reflectance of leaves from 400 to 2500 nm, was used to determine the effect of patches of chlorosis on leaf reflectance. A fraction of the leaf f is assumed to be chlorotic with a chlorophyll concentration C(1). The remainder of the leaf has chlorophyll concentration C(2) such that mean leaf chlorophyll concentration, C(mean) = fC(1) + (1 - f)C(2), is constant for a range of f and C(1) values. LIBERTY can be used to estimate the reflectance of a leaf with a particular chlorophyll concentration at a particular wavelength R(lambda,C) (assuming other leaf properties remain constant), thus we can estimate the reflectance of the chlorotic leaf as fR(lambda,C(1))+ (1 - f)R(lambda,C(2)). The model indicated that small areas of chlorosis have a disproportionately large influence on overall leaf reflectance. For example, a leaf with 25% of its area chlorotic can have the same reflectance (400-700 nm) as a homogeneous leaf with 60% less chlorophyll. Thus, determination of chlorophyll concentration from remotely sensed data is prone to underestimation when chlorophyll is nonuniformly distributed. Hence, attempts to model leaf and canopy reflectance using radiative transfer models will need to consider how to incorporate nonuniform chlorophyll distribution.

Chlorophyll↗

PubMed2002

Changes in foliar spectral reflectance and chlorophyll fluorescence of four temperate species following branch cutting.

Spectral reflectance and chlorophyll fluorescence are rapid non-invasive methods that can be used to quantify plant stress. Because variation in ambient light (e.g., diurnal patterns of solar radiation) may have a confounding effect on these measurements, branches are often excised in the field and then measured under controlled conditions in the laboratory. We studied four temperate tree species (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill. (balsam fir), Betula papyrifera var. cordifolia (Regel) Fern. (paper birch), Picea rubens Sarg. (red spruce) and Sorbus americana Marsh. (mountain-ash)) to determine how quickly reflectance and fluorescence change following branch cutting. We hypothesized that conifer species, which have tough xeromorphic foliage, would exhibit changes more slowly than broadleaf species. Furthermore, we hypothesized that keeping broadleaf samples cool and moist would delay the onset of reflectance and fluorescence changes. In one set of experiments, we did not use any treatments to maintain the freshness of cut branches. During the first 12 h following cutting, changes in reflectance and fluorescence were slight for all species. Two or 3 days after branch cutting, the two conifers still showed only small changes in the ratio of variable to maximum fluorescence (Fv/Fm) and most reflectance indices, whereas paper birch and mountain-ash showed larger and more rapid declines in Fv/Fm and most reflectance indices. We attribute these declines to loss of water. As a consequence of xeromorphic leaf structure, the conifers were better able to minimize water loss than the two broadleaf species. In another experiment, paper birch that had been kept cool and moist after cutting showed only slight changes in fluorescence and reflectance, even after 3 days, indicating that with careful handling the time interval between collection and measurement of reflectance and fluorescence of many broadleaf specimens can be extended to several days. We conclude that measurements of reflectance and fluorescence need not be made in situ to be accurate and reliable.

Abies↗

PubMed1996

Maturation of the middle and external ears: acoustic power-based responses and reflectance tympanometry.

OBJECTIVE: The maturation of the external and middle ear in the human infant has significant effects on the interpretation of measured ear-canal responses to acoustic stimuli. A tutorial section is presented of power-based response functions, accompanied by a hierarchy of stimulus specifications contrasting pressure-based and power-based responses. An experimental section follows on reflectance tympanometry, the aims of which are to introduce and assess the feasibility of the technique and to discuss implications for tests of hearing development. DESIGN: A tympanometric measurement of admittance is used with an estimate of ear-canal area to calculate a so-called reflectance tympanogram as a function of frequency and static pressure in the ear canal. Selected results on 226 Hz reflectance tympanograms are reported for normal-hearing adults and for infants of age 3 to 6 mo with both normal and flat 226 Hz admittance tympanograms. A multifrequency reflectance tympanogram is reported for an adult. RESULTS: Measured at ambient ear-canal pressure, the acoustic external- and middle-ear responses of infants of age 1 to 6 mo are compared with those of adults. The admittance level is influenced by the ear-canal area, the interplay of compliant- and inertance-controlled effects in the middle ear, and the presence of losses. Ear-canal area is a major factor in distinguishing infant from adult responses. Energy reflectance provides a measure of middle-ear power transmission that is approximately independent of probe placement in the ear canal and that varies with maturation. These power-based responses, measured at ambient pressure, are contrasted with tympanometric measurements. Reflectance tympanometry is defined and easily measured in infants and adults. Some infants with flat 226 Hz tympanograms have energy reflectance in the normal range at higher frequencies (2 to 4 kHz). CONCLUSION: Acoustic measurements of power-based responses in the ear canal-reflectance, admittance, and impedance-provide insight into the maturation of the external and middle ear. Reflectance tympanometry tests the relative accuracy underlying the tympanometric measurement of compensated eardrum admittance and may have clinical utility.

Acoustic Impedance Tests↗

PubMed1989

Laser reflections from relatively flat specular surfaces.

A major element in laser range control procedures has been the control of stray reflections from glass reflectors which may be near the laser target. These hazardous reflections have been thought to extend as far as the direct beam for near grazing angles of incidence. Modern military laser rangefinders and designators can be hazardous to the unaided eye to distances of 10 km or even greater. For this reason, many square kilometers of laser range area have been necessary to conduct laser tests when flat specular reflectors may be present on targets. Fortunately, sophisticated pointing systems have been developed with these laser systems to ensure that the direct beam is confined to the immediate target area. In most cases, flat specular reflectors also have been eliminated from the immediate target area. In some instances, however, specular reflectors still exist near or on laser targets. For these special cases, a more definitive mathematical treatment of hazardous laser reflections is desired. The divergence of a laser beam which has been reflected from a flat specular surface is dependent on the size of the reflector, the divergence of the laser creating the reflection, and the curvature of the reflecting surface. It can be shown mathematically that the curvature of even an optical flat, a reference surface used to compare the flatness of other surfaces, will produce a significant additional beam spread, thereby reducing the hazards of reflected beams. The natural curvature of plate glass or window glass is much greater, reducing the hazards even further. The extent of the hazards for reflections of various types of lasers and reflecting surfaces is discussed.

Eye Injuries↗

PubMed1998

Use of image-based information in judgments of surface-reflectance properties.

We examined how well we can recover surface-reflectance properties from shading patterns under changes in surface shape. The stimulus we used was a square surface modulated in depth by a low-pass-filtered random field and rendered by the Phong illumination model [Commun. ACM 18, 311 (1975)]. Two different surface images (target and match) were presented side by side, with either the viewing direction or the surface-normal direction rotating around the horizontal axis. The target shape was manipulated by changing the spatial spectrum, and the target reflectance was manipulated by changing the diffuse-reflection coefficient and the specular-reflection exponent (shininess) of the Phong model. The shape parameters of the match stimulus were fixed, but its reflectance parameters were under the control of subjects, who had to make the apparent reflectance of the two surfaces as similar as possible. The results showed that the constant error (difference between simulated and matched values) was large except when the two surfaces had the same shape parameters or when they differed only in scale. The pattern of the constant errors and response variabilities suggests that the judgments of the subjects were based on the similarity of the luminance histogram of the surface image. Our results demonstrate a limitation of surface-reflectance constancy for changes in shape and the importance of image-based information in reflectance judgments. The results are discussed in relation to previous studies that showed effects of spatial layout on surface-reflectance perception.

Color Perception↗

PubMed1986

Evaluation of linear models of surface spectral reflectance with small numbers of parameters.

Recent computational models of color vision demonstrate that it is possible to achieve exact color constancy over a limited range of lights and surfaces described by linear models. The success of these computational models hinges on whether any sizable range of surface spectral reflectances can be described by a linear model with about three parameters. In the first part of this paper, I analyze two large sets of empirical surface spectral reflectances and examine three conjectures concerning constraints on surface reflectance: that empirical surface reflectances fall within a linear model with a small number of parameters, that empirical surface reflectances fall within a linear model composed of band-limited functions with a small number of parameters, and that the shape of the spectral-sensitivity curves of human vision enhance the fit between empirical surface reflectances and a linear model. I conclude that the first and second conjectures hold for the two sets of spectral reflectances analyzed but that the number of parameters required to model the spectral reflectances is five to seven, not three. A reanalysis of the empirical data that takes human visual sensitivity into account gives more promising results. The linear models derived provide excellent fits to the data with as few as three or four parameters, confirming the third conjecture. The results suggest that constraints on possible surface-reflectance functions and the "filtering" properties of the shapes of the spectral-sensitivity curves of photoreceptors can both contribute to color constancy. In the last part of the paper I derive the relation between the number of photoreceptor classes present in vision and the "filtering" properties of each class. The results of this analysis reverse a conclusion reached by Barlow: the "filtering" properties of human photoreceptors are consistent with a trichromatic visual system that is color constant.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed2006

Reflection: a critical proficiency essential to the effective development of a high competence in communication.

Reflection, or the ability to step back from an experience and consider it critically, in an analytical, non-subjective manner, is an essential aspect of problem solving and decision making, and also of effective communication with clients and colleagues. Reflective practice has been described as the essence of professionalism and is therefore a core professional skill; rarely, however, has it been explicitly taught in veterinary curricula, and it has only a recent history in undergraduate human medical curricula. We describe here two preliminary case studies, one in a veterinary medical education context and the other within a human medical education framework, as examples of approaches to assessing a student's ability for ''reflection.'' The case studies also illustrate some of the key principles. Both of the case studies described had as their end goal the enhancement of communication skills through critical reflection. At Monash University, Australia, the majority of students were assessed as being at a level of ''reflection in development.'' The students in the Ontario Veterinary College case study showed moderately good use of self-awareness and critical reflection as a basis for modifying and integrating communication skills into practice. While both preliminary case studies point to the fact that students recognize the importance of communication and value the opportunity to practice it, few students in either case study identified the importance of reflection for lifelong learning and professional competence. Opportunities to complete critical reflection exercises in other parts of curricula and outside of communication would likely reinforce its importance as a generic skill. Ongoing scholarly approaches to teaching, learning, and evaluating reflection and self-awareness are needed.

Cognition↗

PubMed2004

Self-reflecting in developmental context: variations in level and patterning during the first 2 university years.

Self-reflection, typically operationalized in scales of egocentrism and introspectiveness, is portrayed as problematic in much of the literature on adolescents. Self-reflection has been linked to dysfunctional self-consciousness, symptomatology, and risk behaviors. Yet, self-reflection also is seen as essential for adolescent development, particularly with respect to individuation and identity. In this exploratory study, the authors focused on the process of self-reflecting. From interviews with 10 students conducted over the first 2 university years, the authors longitudinally assessed and then evaluated self-reflecting patterns in relationship to a narrative analysis of developmental change. Students who showed evidence of developmental change or sustained engagement in developmental work over the study period devoted a higher percentage of their interview conversation to self-reflecting content. Differences in self-reflecting patterning over time among the students who showed developmental change further suggest linkages between self-reflecting and development. The authors discuss implications for the conceptualization of self-reflecting in relationship to development and for the reinterpretation of previous studies.

Adolescent↗