ACTION INQUIRY
WHAT IS REFLECTIVE PRACTICE?
APPLICATION OF ACTION INQUIRY TO THIS PROJECT
READINGS


Reflective practice is one kind of action inquiry. Action inquiry is a whole family of different methods which are all similar in that they share the same basic cycle of activities (Fig. 3.1).

When people first see this cycle, it seems very familiar to them, because they feel it is what they do when they are acting thoughtfully (rather than automatically). However, while thoughtful action may contain elements of planning, acting and reviewing, these are not consciously employed as a cycle. A comparison of the characteristics of thoughtful action and reflective practice is shown in Table 3.1. In short, whilst thoughtful action is not automatic, thinking about what one is doing does not change it into reflective practice. On the other hand, we do act thoughtfully throughout the reflective practice cycle, so that reflective practice incorporates thoughtful action.

Table 3.1. Comparison of the characteristics of thoughtful action and reflective practice.

Thoughtful Action Reflective Practice
It is instantaneous — one decides what to do next, thinking about it only for a split second.

It requires one to take time out to reflect.

It involves a conscious attempt to plan, describe, and reflect on the process and outcomes of the action.

There is no cycle of clearly defined separate phases. it is an unpredictable sequence because one responds to events in the situation itself. It is a clear cycle of separate moments in which one engages in completely different activities.
There is no describing moment, because one is engaged in acting. As reflection occurs after action, one creates an observational record and describes the results of the action.
One is not aiming at an improvement to practice — one is thinking about how best to do what one always does. The major aim is to produce an improvement to practice.
There is no element of inquiry and one is not deliberately setting out to learn something from the experience. One designs and uses inquiry strategies to find out more about one's practice.