Self-report visual scale of course appeal

Abstract

A 4-item affect scale portrayed on crosswise lines was developed and tested on medical students participating in preclinical courses with a view to measuring appeal as an educational outcome. This usage was based on assumptions that end-of-course adaptation could be derived from affect responses and should reflect the appeal of a course experience. Indeed, the results demonstrated that positive affect (pleasure, satisfaction) and negative affect (anxiety, grief) responses have substantial correlations with an independent measure of appeal: course valuing section scores of the Course Valuing Inventory. Moreover, students with various adaptation modes, as signalled by affect response patterns, showed significantly different means in course valuing scores. Significant differences were also shown in adaptation mode distribution among students finishing courses with distinct integration methods, or levels of learner control. As hypothesized, it was found that end-of-course adaptation modes differentiate between learners who do and do not volunteer for a student preceptorship in the same course. Findings suggest that affect responses can be used as a scale of course appeal to measure the effects of motivational strategies.