Double-loop reflective practice as an approach to understanding knowledge and experience.

Abstract

The main aim of this paper is to consider the way in which reflective practice can assist practitioners in better understanding their individual knowledge and experience. Transitioning from a design novice to a design expert is described as a vague process, in which reflective practice can offer a level of understanding that provides an important insight into professional development within design. Through a comparison of two methods of reflection and analysis of reflective practice data, it is argued that repertory grid interviews have the potential to be a catalyst for doubleloop learning within individuals; providing people with a platform to reflect on their beliefs and values in addition to their approach towards problem solving. This argument is based on the ability of repertory grids to uncover some of the implicit knowledge developed by designers, which is a distinct advantage to alternative methods of reflection and which is necessary to improve professional practice understanding and learning.

DRS2018: Catalyst

“…Buck-Coleman, 2010). Other research presented interesting tools related to the reflective practice, for instance the already mentioned repertory grid technique (Gribbin et al, 2016). Nevertheless, this technique, which completely relies on words contraposition, also appeared inappropriate; indeed, since designers frequently communicate by using images, we believed that the tool should have been based on diverse communication modes.…”

“…The repertory grid technique proposed by Gribbin et al (2016) for designers is another example of a tool aimed at making design practitioners and student more aware of their tacit knowledge and biases, which is also our issue concerning heterogeneous teams. In particular, it is intended to uncover implicit personal constructs through building polar definitions of certain topics using exclusively words.…”