Readiness for self-directed change in professional behaviours: factorial validation of the Self-Reflection and Insight Scale.
BACKGROUND
Self-reflection, the practice of inspecting and evaluating one's own thoughts, feelings and behaviour, and insight, the ability to understand one's own thoughts, feelings and behaviour, are central to the self-regulation of behaviours. The Self-Reflection and Insight Scale (SRIS) measures three factors in the self-regulation cycle: need for reflection; engagement in reflection, and insight.


METHODS
We used structural equation modelling to undertake a confirmatory factor analysis of the SRIS. We re-specified our model to analyse all of the data to explain relationships between the SRIS, medical student characteristics, and responses to issues of teaching and learning in professionalism.


RESULTS
The factorial validity of a modified SRIS showed all items loading significantly on their expected factors, with a good fit to the data. Each subscale had good internal reliability (> 0.8). There was a strong relationship between the need for reflection and engagement in reflection (r = 0.77). Insight was related to need for reflection (0.22) and age (0.21), but not to the process of engaging in reflection (0.06).


CONCLUSIONS
Validation of the SRIS provides researchers with a new instrument with which to measure and investigate the processes of self-reflection and insight in the context of students' self-regulation of their professionalism. Insight is related to the motive or need for reflection, but the process of reflection does not lead to insight. Attending to feelings is an important and integral aspect of self-reflection and insight. Effective strategies are needed to develop students' insight as they reflect on their professionalism.
Roberts
Chris
C
Faculty of Medicine, Centre for Innovation in Professional Health Education and Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. chris.roberts@med.usyd.edu.au
Stark
Patsy
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001364:Awareness; D001519:Behavior; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D017145:Models, Educational; D011361:Professional Competence; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012647:Self-Assessment; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult