Self-Determination Theory and Professional Reasoning in Occupational Therapy Students: A Mixed Methods Study

Tiffany Bolton, University of MissouriFollow
Evan Dean, University of Kansas Medical CenterFollow

Document Type (Journals)

Original Research

Abstract

Occupational therapy (OT) education frequently utilizes experiential learning as an effective instructional method to develop professional reasoning in OT students. However, there is little information about the development of professional reasoning. The researchers used a mixed-methods design to determine the extent to which an experiential learning course was effective in supporting professional reasoning ability with thirty-six OT students. Participants were students enrolled in an experiential learning course, which was part of their didactic graduate curriculum. Students attended an assigned setting weekly for sixteen weeks. Researchers collected data using the Self-Assessment of Clinical Reflection and Reasoning (SACRR) as well as reflective journaling. Pre-post scores on the SACRR were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and showed a statistically significant increase in self-perceived professional reasoning. The researchers analyzed journals from the perspective of Self-Determination Theory (SDT) using the tenets of competence, relatedness, and autonomy. Students developed professional reasoning along a continuum of competence to relatedness to autonomy. The results show that this progression does not occur in perfect stages or on a defined timeline, and provides novel insights into how the progression occurs. Occupational therapy educators can apply the results to better facilitate student development of professional reasoning. Further research could determine how to best employ SDT in OT education.

Biography

Tiffany Bolton, OTD, MOT, OTR/L is an Assistant Clinical Professor for the University of Missouri Occupational Therapy program. She has practiced in pediatrics for her entire career and teaches in the pediatric curriculum. Tiffany teaches and engages in clinical practice and research with students as part of the experiential learning courses in the MU OT curriculum.

Evan Dean, PhD, OTR/L is Assistant Professor in the Occupational Therapy Education department at the University of Kansas Medical Center. His research and practice focuses on promoting self-determination, career development, and community participation for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Declaration of Interest

The authors report no declarations of interest.

Recommended Citation

Bolton, T., & Dean, E. (2018). Self-Determination Theory and Professional Reasoning in Occupational Therapy Students: A Mixed Methods Study. Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 2 (3). https://doi.org/10.26681/jote.2018.020304