Changing Students’ Attitudes Toward Research: Comparing Traditional With Flipped Classroom Learning Methods

Abstract

Despite the importance of research to social work education, BSW students often view these courses negatively, demonstrating a lack of interest and increased levels of anxiety. This study assessed BSW students’ attitudes toward research and the impact of two different pedagogical approaches, traditional versus the flipped classroom. Using the Attitudes Toward Research Scale, two cohorts of BSW students (n=87) were surveyed at the completion of their research sequence. Findings from the study suggest that students taught in the flipped classroom reported lower levels of apprehension toward research and reported more positive attitudes and recognition of research usefulness than their traditional classroom counterparts.