I think they are different or at least they used to be! I came across
reflexivity in the following sense:
In social theory, reflexivity may occur when theories in a discipline
should apply equally forcefully to the discipline itself, for example in
the case that the theories of knowledge construction in the field of
Sociology of Scientific Knowledge should apply equally to knowledge
construction by Sociology of Scientific Knowledge practitioners, or when
the subject matter of a discipline should apply equally well to the
individual practitioners of that discipline, for example when
psychological theory should explain the psychological mental processes
of psychologists.
This was an issue for social science in the 80s and 90s when I was
teaching in Communication Studies. That is an extract from the Wikipedia
entry but they say it 'needs the attention of an expert'!
So I would stick with 'reflection'
Peter
Alison Green wrote:
> This is how it started: I run workshops on reflective writing. Most of our students do a placement year on which they're expected to 'reflect' when they return to the uni. They find this difficult, not least because having spent their university careers being conditioned into writing in the third person and discovering that no-one's interested in their personal opinions, they are suddenly expected to write in the first person and recount thoughts about their experiences whilst trying to inject some objectivity. Well, we have some ideas, techniques & resources to help them..so far, so good.
>
> However, I am currently working on a project about assessment methods and on immersing myself in an incredibly boring & lengthy report, I read that reflective assignments are now being replaced by those involving reflexive writing. Hence, my question. So glad I'm not a student and fingers crossed that no-one asks me to run a workshop on reflexivity, assuming there is such a word and that it means anything!
>
> ________________________________________
> From: David Hardman [[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 24 March 2009 18:58
> To: Alison Green
> Cc: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: reflexive v reflective
>
> It seems to me that at least one of these terms must have been coined
> without engaging in any serious reflection or reflexion, or whatever.
> After all, if you wanted to use a term that would have a clear meaning
> that everyone would understand, why would you pick a term that sounds
> almost exactly like another word that has a similar, but not identical,
> meaning. It's a recipe for confusion. Someone just didn't think it
> through!
>
> Personally, I think 'reflective' sounds better, however you define it, as
> it suggests that you are holding up a mirror either to yourself or the
> world. By contrast'Reflexive' brings to mind 'reflex', suggesting an
> automatic response to something.
>
> My advice to anyone who wants students to engage in reflective/reflexive
> writing is just pick whichever term you prefer, but then describe as best
> you can exactly the kind of things you expect from them.
>
> David
>
>
>
>> Except that 'reflexive' can be understood to be something performed
>> without conscious thought (OED).
>>
>>
>> Alison Green
>> Study Support Tutor
>> Fellow of Learning & Teaching
>> Room D172
>> Bournemouth University
>> Ext: 65286
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: learning development in higher education network
>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of John Hilsdon
>> Sent: 24 March 2009 14:33
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: reflexive v reflective
>>
>> Dear Alison and all
>>
>>
>> A v. quick response ... I don't have any particular examples of practice
>> to illustrate this but ... my simplistic answer is to say that the two
>> terms 'can' be used interchangeably, although some would argue that
>> reflexivity indicates a deeper level of reflective practice - and
>> indicates one who systematically engages in reflection on the processes of
>> reflection as applied to his/her area of practice. Reflexivity might then
>> be seen as a more self-consciously reflective approach and/or one deriving
>> from a methodological commitment ... I suppose those wanting to make a
>> distinction between the terms might say that you can be reflective without
>> being explicitly committed to reflection ... so in practice the evidence
>> for reflexivity (say, in a journal) might be seen in the reflection upon,
>> for eg, how learning has occurred / been supported by engaging in
>> reflective practice ... phew!
>>
>> It seems rather a semantic nicety to me but I am prepared to be chastened
>> or corrected by others ...!
>>
>>
>> John
>>
>> From: learning development in higher education network
>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Bill Mill
>> Sent: 24 March 2009 14:09
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: reflexive v reflective
>>
>> Hi Alison,
>>
>> I posted
>> something<http://longwaytotipperary.blogspot.com/2009/01/reflexive-or-reflective.html>
>> on these lines a little while ago - so I'd also be interested to see if
>> anybody would like to grapple with the terms themselves, too.
>>
>> Cheers, Bill :-)
>> On Tue, Mar 24, 2009 at 1:03 PM, Alison Green
>> <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote:
>> Would someone care to differentiate between reflexive & reflective
>> journals please? I understand the difference in the 2 words but some
>> examples of practice would be very helpful
>> Thank-you
>> Alison Green
>> Study Support Tutor
>> Fellow of Learning & Teaching
>> Room D172
>> Bournemouth University
>> Ext: 65286
>>
>>
>>
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>>
>> --
>> Bill Miller
>> Senior e-Learning Consultant
>>
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>>
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>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> --
> Dr David Hardman
> Principal Lecturer in Learning Development
>
> Associate Editor, Journal of Economic Psychology
>
> JDM textbook blog. http://judgmentanddecisionmaking.blogspot.com
>
> Science and reason blog. http://dkhardman.blogspot.com
>
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>
>
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> The UK's no. 1 new university
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> This email is intended only for the person to whom it is addressed and may contain confidential information. If you have received this email in error, please notify the sender and delete this email, which must not be copied, distributed or disclosed to any other person.
> Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Bournemouth University or its subsidiary companies. Nor can any contract be formed on behalf of the University or its subsidiary companies via email.
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