Effects of Problem-based Learning on the Learning Atti-tudes, Critical Thinking Disposition and Problem-Solving Skills of Nursing Students: Infant Care

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of problem based learning in regard to the study of infant care on the learning attitudes, critical thinking disposition and problem-solving skills of nursing students, and to compare the effect of problem based learning with that of traditional learning. Methods: This research was based on a non-equivalent control group pre-post design. Measurement tools were the learning attitudes scale developed by the Korea Education Development Institute (1992) and revised by Hwang Seon Young (2003), the critical thinking disposition measuring tool developed by Yoon Jin (2004), problem-solving skills measuring tool developed by Korea Education Development Institute (2003). To analyze the program effects, paired t-test, t-test and ANCOVA were used. Results: The results of this study reveal that learning attitudes and critical thinking disposition were significantly im- proved in the experiment group. In terms of comparing the two groups, learning attitudes of the experiment group were significantly higher than those of control group. But critical thinking disposition, problem-solving skills were not signifi- cantly different. Conclusion: The results demonstrated that problem-based learning contributed to improving learning attitudes, critical thinking disposi- tion and decision-making and assessment sub areas of problem-solving skills in nursing students.