Reflective Personality: Identifying Cognitive Style and Cognitive Complexity

Curr Psychol (2013) 32:8299

DOI 10.1007/s12144-013-9166-5

Inge C. M. van Seggelen-Damen

Published online: 26 January 2013# Springer Science+Business Media New York 2013

Abstract Categorized among learning practices, reflection involves cognitive processing. Some people say they reflect often, whereas others claim they are less inclined to reflect on a regular basis. The present study examines reflection in an academic learning setting. In contrast with previous studies testing reflective task accomplishment, we are interested in personality traits that can predict reflection or a reflective outcome. By means of a survey university students are questioned about their learning practices when working on their final thesis. To test whether certain traits influence reflection and whether reflection produces cognitive outcomes at the individual level, we performed hierarchical regression analysis. In addition, structural equation modeling is used to test for the mediation effects of reflection. The data stress a mediating role of reflection in the relationship between particular personality traits and cognitive complexity.

Keywords Reflection . Need for cognition . Openness to experience . Private self-consciousness . Cognitive complexity

Introduction

Students are often said to improve performance in assignments or project work because of reflective learning (for example White and Frederiksen 1998; Rogers 2001; Etkina et al. 2010). Reflection does not take place all the time and in every place, however. It is considered a tendency, which people show now and then. Certain stimuli cause people to think through their thoughts, feelings and actions (Kuhn et al. 2004). People address uncertainties by reflecting on their experiences (Tversky and Kahneman 1982; Aukes et al. 2008; Matthew and Sternberg 2009). Distancing themselves from the experience, it is argued, provides room to reconsider and get an overview (Kuhn et al. 2000; Chak 2006).

I. C. M. van Seggelen-Damen (*)

Faculty of Psychology, Open University of the Netherlands, PO Box 2960, 6401 DL Heerlen, The Netherlandse-mail: [email protected]

Reflective Personality: Identifying Cognitive Style and Cognitive Complexity

Curr Psychol (2013) 32:8299 83

Over the years some indications have been found about a relationship between reflective judgment, culture and personal characteristics such as age, education, autonomy and altruism (Kitchener and King 1981; Friedman 2004; Rokach 2004; Rokach et al. 2004; Rice and Pasupathi 2010). Little is known, however, about reflection in terms of cognitive style. Following the tradition...