This mixed methods, exploratory study investigated the importance of the menstrual cycle diagram for understanding human reproduction. Several theories were used to support this study including Visual Design Theory (Tufte, 1990, 1997, 2001), and Human Constructivist Theory (Mintzes, Wandersee, Novak 1998). The two sexuality education programs used by society, abstinence-only programs and comprehensive sex education programs were compared to illustrate how this study applies to the current state of sexuality education in the United States. Community college students from two institutions in the southern region of the United States, registered in five introductory biological science courses, participated in a unit on the menstrual cycle diagram. These students were given a pretest and posttest probing their knowledge about the menstrual cycle and the value added by using a menstrual cycle diagram during instruction. The main diagram that was tested used a calendar format diagram designed by the researcher. After the posttest was administered, six students from each course were clinically interviewed. A partitioned content analysis was performed on the qualitative data with respect to student understanding and variables--gender, age category, prior knowledge, childbearing experience and geographic area. Pearsons chi-square analysis was used on the quantitative data to determine if there was a statistically significant difference between the answers for each question on the pretest and posttest. In addition, a paired t-test was performed on the quantitative data to determine if there was a statistically significant difference between the pretest and posttest scores of the students who participated in the study, overall and by category. Nine of the 23 questions showed a statistical significant difference between the pretest and posttest. On six of those nine questions the students knowledge increased as a result of the presentation. The areas of the menstrual cycle where knowledge was gained included: menses/menstruation, ovulation, menopause, hormonal control, and life span of sperm. During the interviews, students indicated there was value added to their understanding of the menstrual cycle with the use of the content-equivalent, calendar-format menstrual cycle diagram. The value added was directly related to the symbols used to represent the events of the menstrual cycle.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LSU/oai:etd.lsu.edu:etd-07062007-121327 |
| Date | 10 July 2007 |
| Creators | Mellieon-Williams, Francesca Maria |
| Contributors | Doo Cho, Rita Culross, Earl Cheek, Pam Blanchard, James Wandersee |
| Publisher | LSU |
| Source Sets | Louisiana State University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://etd.lsu.edu/docs/available/etd-07062007-121327/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached herein a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to LSU or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below and in appropriate University policies, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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