The purpose of this investigation was to identify the perceptual learning style preferences of nursing students and to examine the relationship, if any, among students whose learning style perceptual preferences were identified as being auditory, tactile or visual and their attitudes toward the use of computer-assisted instruction (CAI) in the areas of comfort, creativity and function. The relationships between nursing students' perceptual learning style preferences and the following were also examined: (a) the amount of time they spent using the computer program, Cardiac Exam Bingo; (b) whether the use of the computer program added to their learning the content about the cardiac exam; and (c) whether the students wanted to have more use of computer-assisted instruction in the nursing program.
The data were collected using the Productivity Environmental Preference Survey developed by Price, Dunn and Dunn (1986) and Allen's (1986) Attitude Toward CAI Semantic Differential Scale. The study was conducted at a baccalaureate school of nursing in a health sciences university. The sample for the study was sophomore nursing students who were taking a nursing course in patient assessment.
Data were analyzed using the Pearson Product Moment Correlation and the Chi Square Statistic. All students, regardless of their perceptual learning style preference, had positive attitudes toward the use of computer-assisted instruction. Statistical analysis showed that there was no significant relationship between any one of the learning styles and students' attitudes toward CAI. Data analysis did show significant positive correlations between the amount of time students spent using the computer and the visual perceptual learning style; the attitude of function; whether students felt the use of the computer program added to their knowledge and whether they wanted more CAI added to the nursing curriculum.
Qualitative data were also gathered by asking students about their experience using the computer program, Cardiac Exam Bingo. Comments about the use of computers in education indicated that students found the computer to be a useful study tool. Students did express concern that the use of CAI would add to students' work loads; therefore, they recommended that it be available to students but not required. Affective comments also provided further evidence that students had positive attitudes toward the computer program used for this study.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:pdx.edu/oai:pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu:open_access_etds-2228 |
| Date | 01 January 1989 |
| Creators | McFarland, Mary Brambilla |
| Publisher | PDXScholar |
| Source Sets | Portland State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | Dissertations and Theses |
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