Reflective Writing in Higher Education: A Systematic Review of Pedagogical Approaches, Research Trends, and Assessment Practices

Reflection is an indispensable skill, enabling students to evaluate their learning journeys and foster professional development critically. While the significance of reflection has gained increasing acknowledgment in higher education, persistent challenges remain in its integration into academic curricula and in the establishment of practical assessment. This systematic review synthesized findings from 88 articles to critically examine the integration of reflective writing in academic curricula, explore dominant research themes, and analyze methodologies for its evaluation. Reflective writing is most frequently incorporated into a single semester-long theoretical course using reflective writing assignments, with a significant concentration in health professions education. The literature's nine sub-themes were categorized into three principal research domains: Assessment of Reflective Writing (n = 36), Reflective Writing as an Assessment Tool (n = 39), and Factors Influencing Reflective Writing (n = 13). Methodologically, content analysis remains prevalent, but the application of machine learning and natural language processing for assessment constitutes an ongoing trend. The findings provide a comprehensive overview of current reflective writing practices and assessment frontiers, offering crucial implications for curriculum development and future research trajectories.