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The Relevance of Reflection: An Empirical Examination of the Role of Reflection in Ethic of Caring, Leadership, and Psychological Well-Being
- Journal of College Student Development
- Johns Hopkins University Press
- Volume 53, Number 2, March/April 2012
- pp. 221-242
- 10.1353/csd.2012.0029
- Article
- Additional Information
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This article is an empirical examination of reflection for first-year and third-year students using data from the College Students’ Beliefs and Values survey. Frequency of self-reflection increased between the first and third years of college. Two self-reported measures of reflection, engaging in self-reflection and having classes that incorporated reflective writing, were among the strongest significant positive predictors of Ethic of Caring and Leadership in the third year of college. Self-reflection was, however, negatively related to Psychological Well-Being. The findings point to the importance of supporting reflection in curricular and cocurricular activities in order to promote learning and self-understanding.