What is Driscoll's Model of Reflection

 

Reflective practice is a crucial component of both academic and professional development. Reflective practice allows students and professionals to look back at their experiences, make sense of their actions, and improve future performance. In disciplines such as nursing, healthcare, educa

tion, and management, reflection promotes critical thinking, ethics, and responsible decision-making. Among the numerous models of reflection, the Driscoll Model of Reflection is one of the most effective and simplest models of reflection.

Background and Overview of Driscoll Reflective Model

Driscoll 1994 Model of Reflection provides a structured approach towards introspection regarding any situation or event, helping in gaining valuable insights from the same. Developed by John Driscoll in the 1990s and 2000s, this theory is based on the earlier works of Terry Borton, who developed the structure of basic questions used in this model. The insights drawn for introspection and guidance on practitioners’ thinking are based on these key questions.

The core of Driscoll Reflective Model is a simplified three-step process for thinking about experiences. It then adds a series of additional questions called “trigger questions” to each stage to help guide healthcare practitioners draw insights from situations, analysing the events- good or bad, consequences, impacts and final conclusions. This model comes under a broad subject known as reflective practice, which uses guided methods to advance practitioner education and professional development. 

Purpose of the Driscoll Model of Reflection 

The primary purpose of this model is to help individuals convert their experiences into learning opportunities. It helps individuals to reflect on their actions, explore the reasons for their behavior, and develop strategies to improve their future performance.

Understanding the Driscoll Reflective Model

Let’s understand this model by introducing Borton’s three basic questions- What?, So What?,and Now What?. 

These three stages form the foundation of the Driscoll reflective cycle and guide individuals through description, analysis, and future action planning.

The ‘What?’ is used to discuss and describe the situation or the event that has occurred, and any details pertaining to it. Reflecting on what happened is the first step of the process. The next question to think about is- ‘So What?’. This makes us analyse the impact the event would have on us and the people involved. What were the basis of your actions, any reactions following the event, internal and external conflicts- everything, summing up the implications of the event. The last question that arises is- ‘Now What?’. This helps ponder over the action plan of the event that has occurred. What can be done, concrete steps that can be taken to rectify the situation, and how things can be done differently in the future to prevent any mistakes

 

Trigger Questions in the Driscoll Model of Reflection

I. What?

1. What exactly happened?

2. What exactly did you do?

3. Were any other people affected or involved in the event?

4. Would you describe it as a good experience, a bad experience, or both? Why?

5. Is there any other data, information or feelings leading up to the situation?

II. So what?

1. What did you feel at the moment the event occurred?

2. What was your reaction to the event?

3. Why do you think you reacted that way?

4. Do you feel the same way about the action or event now as you did at that time?

5. Did the event, or your reaction to it, create an internal conflict with your morals or personal and professional values?

6. Can you think of any past events and experiences that may have led you to react in such a way?

7. If there were other people within this situation, what did they feel about the event, and how did they react to it? Are you aware of why they felt or reacted that way?

III. Now What?

1. What did you learn by reflecting on the event?

2. Were there any actions you could have undertaken to prevent the negative or undesirable consequences?

3. How could you have prevented the negative or undesirable outcomes?

4. If a similar event takes place in the future, would you react differently? How?

5. What could you have done to prepare yourself more fully for this event?

6. Where exactly did the situation go wrong, and what will you try to do differently next time?

Answering and drawing insights from these questions helps practitioners take a step back and deepen their learning from reflection. 

Applications of the Driscoll Model of Reflection 

The Driscoll Model of Reflection has been widely used in a variety of academic and professional contexts. In the field of nursing and healthcare, the model is used to improve patient care and clinical decision-making. In education and teacher training, the model is used to help educators reflect on their classroom experiences to improve teaching practices. The model is also applicable in social work, management, leadership development, and student reflective assignments, where structured reflection is used to facilitate personal development and professional competence.

Advantages of the Driscoll Model of Reflection 2007

1. The model is simple, clear, and easy to apply. The stages can be easily understood and remembered, helping in creating straightforward solutions.

2. Due to its easy structure, it has applicability in many areas of study, such as healthcare, nursing, experiential learning, and other professional and educational settings, enabling improved practice and decision-making.

3. It promotes continuous professional development and helps to transform experiences into valuable learning experiences.

4. The model is easily incorporated into reflective journals, essays, and academic assignments.

Limitations of the Driscoll Model of Reflection 2007

1. The model does not provide an in-depth analysis of the entire situation. It is a more surface-level analysis. The model can get difficult to use in complicated events.

2. It does not focus on the feelings and emotions of the people involved. Human emotions can be layered and complex to understand; not everything can be dissected into three questions.

3. The model is based on self-reflection, which can sometimes result in biased or inaccurate analysis if self-awareness is not present.

4. The model tends to reduce experiences to three stages, which might not capture the full emotional complexity of a particular experience.

Driscoll Model of Reflection Example

Here is a case study to understand the Driscoll Reflection Model better. This reflective example will focus on the nurse's experience and challenges during a morning shift while administering antibiotics to a patient.

What?

I was working on a busy morning shift and about to give antibiotics to a post-operative patient. While taking a glance at the drug chart, I saw that the prescribed dosage looked higher than usual. I was about to go ahead with it when a quick re-reference to the patient's records made me understand it was an error in prescribing. I reported to the senior nurse and the doctor, and the dosage was corrected before it was given.

So What?

This experience reinforced the crucial need for being alert during the administration of medication. As stated in the NMC Code (2018), nurses are required to practice safely and maintain patient safety. Had I not checked twice, the patient might have suffered severe harm. I also learned how pressure on the workload and time can increase the possibility of making errors. This experience reaffirmed my duty to adhere to the "five rights" of medication (right patient, drug, dose, route, and time). It also reminded me that there is a need for effective communication with the broader healthcare team to avoid errors.

Now What?

In the future, I shall continue to double-read prescriptions thoroughly and never hurry drug administration regardless of workload demand. Furthermore, I shall undertake additional training in pharmacology to enhance my knowledge foundation. In addition, I shall promote open discussion within the team about near misses, since these can be effective learning experiences. In this way, I can help provide safer, more responsible practice and promote a patient safety culture.

How to Use the Driscoll Model in Reflective Assignments 

When using Driscoll's reflective model in academic contexts, students are encouraged to begin by describing the experience in detail in the “What?” phase. In the “So What?” phase, they are encouraged to analyze the experience using academic theories, professional standards, and their own insights. The final “Now What?” phase should focus on learning outcomes and future improvement. By using a reflective voice, connecting experiences to learning outcomes, and using relevant references to support analysis, students can ensure that their reflective assignments are of the highest quality.

Conclusion

The Driscoll Model of Reflection is a simple yet powerful tool for structured learning from experience. By walking individuals through the process of description, analysis, and future action planning, the model enables professional development, ethical practice, and improvement. The reflective framework is particularly useful for students and professionals in the healthcare, education, and management sectors who regularly undertake reflective learning.

However, simply understanding this framework is not enough. Often, challenging assignments, essays, dissertations, and theses require extensive research and accurate application of reflective models. At Locus Assignments, you can get genuine assignment help in the UK, with on-time delivery, expert assistance, unlimited revisions, and—most importantly—a guarantee of trust. Contact us for more details.

References

https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/health-and-medicine/driscoll-model-reflection

https://doi.org/10.34172/jmdc.2022.1385

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who developed the Driscoll Reflection Model?

The Driscoll Reflection Model was developed by John Driscoll in 1994, building on Terry Borton’s earlier reflective framework.

2. What so what now what reflection model Driscoll?

The “What? So What? Now What?” model is a simple three-step framework used to reflect on experiences. It helps describe what happened, understand its meaning, and plan future actions, making it useful for students and professionals.

3. How do you reference Driscoll’s Model of Reflection?

Driscoll’s model is usually referenced by citing John Driscoll (1994) in your chosen academic referencing style, such as Harvard or APA.

4. When should the Driscoll Reflection Model be used?

It is best used after practical experiences, such as clinical practice or workplace learning, to improve understanding and future performance.

About the Author

This article is written by Sarah Mitchell, an education specialist and academic writer based in Birmingham, UK. With expertise in nursing education and reflective practice, Sarah has spent several years guiding students in applying methods to enhance both their academic performance and professional development.