The reflective (and competent) practitioner: a model of professional competence which seeks to harmonise the reflective practitioner and competence‐based approaches

TLDR

The authors previously proposed a provisional model of professional competence that integrates Schön’s reflective practitioner paradigm with competence‑based approaches, including functional outcomes and personal competence. This paper presents a revised version of that model. The revision was guided by reader feedback and empirical testing across 20 professions. The updated model incorporates the respondents’ suggestions and empirical observations, achieving a more comprehensive framework.

Abstract

In an earlier article, published in 1996, the authors described a provisional model of professional competence which attempted to harmonise the “reflective practitioner” paradigm (developed by Schön and now espoused by many professional education programmes) with competence‐based approaches. The latter included both the “functional outcomes” approach and the “personal competence” approach. Views on the composite model were sought from readers of this journal. The model was also tested as part of a programme of empirical work across 20 different professions. This paper offers a revised version of the model which takes account of the suggestions made by a significant number of respondents, as well as observations from the empirical work.