Developing a reflective capacity within undergraduate education: The role of work-based placement learning

Lucas, Ursula; Leng Tan, Phaik

Abstract

The aim of the project was to investigate the development of reflective capacity during work-based placement learning and its relationship to student final-year academic performance.

Its objectives were to enquire into:

1. the nature of the reflective capacity brought by business studies and accounting undergraduates to their work-based placement or their final-year studies
2. the elements within the work-based placement that support, encourage or inhibit the development of a reflective capacity
3. how the reflective capacity brought by undergraduates from their work-based placement is related to their academic performance in their final year of undergraduate study.

The project comprised two strands of research. The first strand evaluated a questionnaire for reflective thinking (QRT) designed to quantitatively measure aspects and extent of reflective thinking (Kember et al., 2000). This relates to research objectives (1) and (3) above. The questionnaire was administered to a cohort of students (n=260) at the beginning and end of their work-based placement, and to a cohort of final-year students (n=800) at the beginning and end of the academic year. The second strand of research involved an enquiry into the nature of students’ reflective capacity, using interviews to explore their ways of knowing and their experiences during their work-based placement. This relates to research objectives (1), (2) and (3) above. Interviews were conducted with placement students (n=11) at the commencement and in the latter stages of their work-based placements, and with final-year students (n=6) who had previously completed a placement.

• Report Type: Project Report
• Publication Date: Oct 1, 2007
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Keywords: undergraduate education, role of work-based placement
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/1024613
• Publisher URL: http://www-new1.heacademy.ac.uk/assets/documents/resources/publications/exchange/LucasLengTan.pdf