Cooperative Learning Effects On Teamwork Attitudes In Clinical Laboratory Science Students
Document Type
Article
Language
eng
Publication Date
Summer 2005
Publisher
American Society of Clinical Laboratory Science
Source Publication
Clinical Laboratory Science
Source ISSN
0894-959x
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate clinical laboratory science (CLS) student attitudes toward teamwork when using cooperative learning (CL) as compared to individual learning (IL) in a course and to determine if learning method affects student attitudes toward the course itself.
DESIGN/SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: This was a multi-institutional study involving eight classrooms in seven states. The effects of CI and IL on student attitudes were compared for 216 student participants.
INTERVENTION: One group of students learned the course material through a CI approach while a second group of students learned via a traditional IL approach. For each course, the instructor, class material, and examination content was identical for the CI and IL students; the only variable was learning method.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Student attitudes toward teamwork and toward the course were evaluated with a 35-item Attitude Questionnaire administered as a post-test. Mean scores for the CI and IL groups were compared using the Student t-test for independent samples.
RESULTS: No significant difference was seen between the CI and IL students when assessing the first 30 questions on student attitudes toward teamwork (means = 98.42 and 98.22, respectively) when all institutions were combined. Comparable results were seen for each of the eight institutions. For the five questions comparing attitudes toward the course itself, there usually was no significant difference in attitude between CI and IL students. The only classrooms where CI students had more positive attitudes were those with instructors who had more than 10 years experience with CL.
CONCLUSION: Results suggest that CI produces similar student attitudes toward teamwork and toward a CLS course as does IL.
Recommended Citation
Laatsch, Linda; Britton, Lynda; Keating, Susan; Kirchner, Phyllis A.; Lehman, Don; Madsen-Myers, Karen; Milson, Linda; Otto, Catherine; and Spence, Libby, "Cooperative Learning Effects On Teamwork Attitudes In Clinical Laboratory Science Students" (2005). Clinical Lab Sciences Faculty Research and Publications. 31.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/clinical_lab_fac/31
Comments
Clinical Laboratory Science, Vol. 18, No.3 (Summer 2005); 150-159. Publisher Link.© 2005 American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science. Used with permission.