Reflective writing in undergraduate medical education: A qualitative review from the field of psychiatry

Figures & data

Table 1. Types of reflective writing (Hatton & Smith, 1995 p 48)

	Type of Reflective Writing	Criteria
1	Descriptive (technical) writing	Not reflective.Description of events that occurred/report of literature.No attempt to provide reasons/justification for events.
2	Descriptive Reflection	Reflective, not only a description of events but some attempt to provide reason justification for events or actions but in a reportive or descriptive way.
3	Dialogic Reflection	Demonstrates a “stepping back” from the events/actions leading to a different level of mulling about,discourse with self and exploring the experience, events, and actions using qualities of judgements and possible alternatives for explaining and hypothesising.
4	Critical Reflection	Demonstrates an awareness that actions and events are not only located in, and explicable by, reference to multiple perspectives but are located in, and influenced by multiple historical, and socio-political contexts.

Table 2. The reflective writing negotiated coding protocol

Coding Stage	Coding Process	Coding Actions
Stage 1	Independent Coding	Each coder independently reads each transcript (reflective essay). A code is presented for each transcript. Each coder signs the coding results for Stage 1. Each coder retains 2 copies of the results from each coder (1 hard copy and 1 electronic copy)
Stage 2	Negotiated Coding	The transcripts where coders are not in agreement are identified. The coders attempt to reach agreement on each transcript. Where agreement cannot be reached, those transcripts are transferred to Stage 3. The coders co-sign the coding results for Stage 2. Each coder retains 2 copies of the final results from the 2^nd Stage.(1 hard copy and 1 electronic copy)
Stage 3	Expert Coding	The expert provides the final adjudication for any transcript that is outstanding from Stage 2. The expert signs the coding results for Stage 3. Each coder retains 2 copies of the final results from the Stage 3.(1 hard copy and 1 electronic copy)

Table 3. Types of reflective writing identified

Hatton, N., & Smith, D. (1995). Reflection in teacher education: Towards definition and implementation. Teaching and Teacher Education, 11(1), 33–49. https://doi.org/10.1016/0742-051X(94)00012-U

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