Cited by 658Adult and Continuing Education TopicsPragmatism in Philosophy and EducationEducational theories and practices

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 47 of the 47 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; none of the 72 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.

The concept of experiential learning and John Dewey's theory of reflective thought and action

Open access
Miettinen, Reijo·2000·International Journal of Lifelong Education

Abstract

The conception of experiential learning is an established approach in the tradition of adult education theory. David Kolb's four-stage model of experiential learning is a fundamental presentation of the approach. In his work Experiential Learning, Kolb states that John Dewey, Kurt Lewin and Jean Piaget are the founders of the approach. The article discusses Kolb's eclectic method of constructing his model of experiential learning. It studies how Kolb introduces and uses the Lewinian tradition of action research and the work of John Dewey to substantiate his model. It is concluded that Kolb generalizes a historically very specific and unilateral mode of experience- feedback session in T-group training- into a general model of learning. Kolb's interpretation of John Dewey's ideas is compared to Dewey's concepts of reflective thought and action. It is concluded that Kolb gives an inadequate interpretation of Dewey's thought and that the very concept of immediate, concrete experience proposed by the experiential learning approach is epistemologically problematic. The theory historical approach of the article discusses both substantial questions related to experiential learning and the way concepts are appropriated, developed and used within adult education theory.

Overview

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1080/026013700293458

Cites

47 of 47 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Verification

Claims the paper makes

75 Own interpretation · 73 No basis given · 56 Sources not found · 13 Not checked yet · 6 No full text of the sources · 2 Own result

Show all 78 claims

  • Probably not a substantial claim. 131
  • It may state two separate claims as one. 39
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 2
147 of 147
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Experience and reflection are the two concepts that characterize the experiential learning approach most clearly.

    “Without doubt, the two concepts that characterize the approach most clearly are experience and re¯ection.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    It is experience that is reflected.

    “It is experience that is re¯ected.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Kolb's model has been widely used in management consultation, leadership training and in research on cognitive processing styles.

    “It also has been widely used in management consultation, leadership training and in research on cognitive processing styles.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Humanistic psychology and existential-phenomenological conception of man provide a special social ontology and value system.

    “The additional qualities given to the concept of experience, such as `personal' , or `authentic' are based on a special social ontology and value system of humanistic psychology and existential-phenomenological conception of man.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Humanistic conceptions represent normative and philosophical arguments for methodological individualism and the 'subjective personal' nature of experience.

    “Humanistic conceptions represent normative and philosophical arguments for methodological individualism and the `subjective personal' nature of experience.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The rich variety and modes of human experience are characteristic of various human activities.

    “The rich variety and modes of human experience characteristic of various human activities are replaced by a narrow and particularistic conception of experience.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The working methods omitted by Kolb were more important than the feedback sessions.

    “He leaves out other, more important working methods without proper attention.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The concept of experiential learning in the form used by Kolb is widely used in adult education research and practice.

    “the concept of experiential learning, in the form used by Kolb and the adult education tradition”
    “Why is this conception so popular within adult education?”
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Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

2 of 2

Citations

Cites

Show all 46 references

Research works printed but not linked: 12

  1. Dewey . 1976/1909 . The influence of Darwin on Philosophy. The Middle Works of John Dewey , Edited by: Boydston , Jo Ann . Vol. 4 , Carbondale & Edwardsville : Southern Illinois University Press .
  2. Dewey , J. 1988a/1925 . Experience and nature. The Later Works of John Dewey , Edited by: Boydston , Jo Ann . Vol. 1 , Carbondale & Edwardsville : Southern Illinois University Press .
  3. Dewey , J. 1988b/1929 . The quest for certainty. The Later Works of John Dewey , Edited by: Boydston , Jo Ann . Vol. 4 , Carbondale & Edwardsville : Southern Illinois University Press .
  4. Dewey . 1989a/ 1909 . How we think. The Later Works of John Dewey , Edited by: Boydston , Jo Ann . Vol. 8 , Carbondale & Edwardsville : Southern Illinois University Press .
  5. Dewey , J. 1989b/1934 . Art as experience. The Later Works of John Dewey , Edited by: Boydston , Jo Ann . Vol. 10 , Carbondale & Edwardsville : Southern Illinois University Press .
  6. Dewey , J. 1991/1938 . Logic. The theory of inquiry. The Later works of John Dewey , Edited by: Boydston , Jo Ann . Vol. 12 , Carbondale & Edwardsville : Southern Illinois University Press .
  7. Farr , R. M. 1996 . The roots of modern social psychology , Cambridge, Mass : Blackwell .
  8. Hanson , N. R. 1965 . Patterns of scientific discoveries: An inquiry into the conceptual foundations of science , Cambridge : Cambridge University Press .
  9. Hirsch , J. I. 1987 . The history of the National Training Laboratories 1947–1986. Social equality trough education and training , New York : Peter Lang .
  10. Kolb , D. 1976 . The learning style inventory: Technical manual , Boston : McBer and Company .
  11. Lippit , R. 1949 . Training in Community relations. A research exploration toward new group skills , New York : Harper & Brothers Publishers .
  12. Popper , K. 1981 . “ The myth of inductive hypothesis generation ” . In On scientific thinking , Edited by: Tweney , R. D. , Doherty , M. E. and Mynatt , C. R. 72 – 76 . New York : Columbia University Press .

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Metadata

Authors
Miettinen, R.
Affiliations
University of Helsinki (FI)
Corresponding author
Miettinen, Reijo
Venue
International Journal of Lifelong Education
Published
2000-01
Volume
19
Issue
1
Pages
54-72
ISSN
  • 0260-1370 (ISSN-L)
  • 1464-519X
OpenAlex
W2112167110
Cited by
658
References
46
Citations by year
2026: 33 · 2025: 37 · 2024: 52 · 2023: 57 · 2022: 47 · 2021: 46 · 2020: 59 · 2019: 43 · 2018: 37 · 2017: 31 · 2016: 24 · 2015: 28 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 23 · 2012: 30
FWCI
39.21
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • International Journal of Lifelong Education (publishedVersion)
  • Työväentutkimus Vuosikirja (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Education › Adult and Continuing Education Topics
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Philosophy › Pragmatism in Philosophy and Education
  • Social Sciences › Education › Educational theories and practices
Keywords
experiential learning, John Dewey, David Kolb, reflective thinking, reflective action, Kurt Lewin, action research, concrete experience, epistemology of learning, adult education theory, history of educational thought

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