Question

Simulation versus online learning: Effects on knowledge acquisition, knowledge retention, and perceived effectiveness.

Bredenkamp, Nancy D

University of Northern Colorado, 2013; Ph.D. (153 p) doctoral dissertation – research

The healthcare environment continues to experience rapid changes requiring nursing professionals to update knowledge and technical skills to provide safe patient care. The result is a need for healthcare facilities to find unique, evidence-based teaching methods to support learning. The purpose of this study was to identify differences in knowledge acquisition, knowledge retention, and perceived effectiveness of two teaching strategies. Nurses participating in the study were randomized to either a high fidelity simulation experience or an online learning module to complete continuing education about a hypoglycemic protocol. After taking a pre-test, participants completed a learning session and then took the first post-test. Approximately four weeks later, a second post-test was completed that included questions about the application of the protocol in clinical practice. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data.
There were no significant differences between the learning strategy groups related to demographic variables, mean test scores, knowledge acquisition, knowledge retention, or perceived effectiveness of the learning strategy. Both groups showed a significant amount of knowledge gain (p = 0.00) and both groups lost knowledge after the learning sessions with the online group, demonstrating a statistically significant loss (p = 0.027). Qualitative analysis of responses to open-ended questions identified three themes: hands-on learning is helpful (simulation group), online learning is effective (online group), and education is applied in practice (both groups).

1. What are the independent variable(s) in this study?

2. What are the dependent variables in this study?

3. What type of research approach was used in the study?

        Is it quantitative and qualitative, Why?

4. Is the study prospective or retrospective in nature? Why?

5. Is the study experimental or non-experimental in design? Why? What type of research is this study?

Answer 1

1.Answer: Simulation learning and online learning.
Because independent variable are the variable the researcher changes or controls and is assumed to have a direct effect on the dependent variable.
2.Answer: knowledge acquisition, knowledge retention, or perceived effectiveness of learning
Because dependent variable is the effect. Its value depends on changes in the independent variable.
3. Answer: Quantitative research approach is used.
Because Quantitative research explains the phenomena by collecting numerical data that are analysed using mathematically based methods. In this research Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data.
4.Answer: Retrospective in nature.
The retrospective cohort study compares groups of individuals who are alike in many ways but differ by a certain characteristic( example, Simulation versus online learning) in terms of a particular outcome ( i.e knowledge acquisition, knowledge retention, and perceived effectiveness).
5 Answer: experimental design.
Experimental research is the type of research that uses a scientific approach towards manipulating one or more control variables and measuring their defect on the dependent variables.

In this present research, the researcher manipulates the variables and measures their effect on the dependent variables.