ORBi: Collard Anne - Reasoning versus knowledge retention and ascertainment throughout a problem-based learning curriculum

Reference : Reasoning versus knowledge retention and ascertainment throughout a problem-based learni...


	Document type :	Scientific journals : Article
	Discipline(s) :	Social & behavioral sciences, psychology : Education & instruction
	To cite this reference:	http://hdl.handle.net/2268/110561

Title :	Reasoning versus knowledge retention and ascertainment throughout a problem-based learning curriculum
Language :	English
Author, co-author :	Collard, Anne [Université de Liège - ULg > > IFRES >]
	Gelaes, Sabine [Université de Liège - ULg > > IFRES >]
	Vanbelle, Sophie [Université de Liège - ULg > Département de mathématique > Département de mathématique >]
	Brédart, Serge [Université de Liège - ULg > Département des sciences cognitives > Psychologie cognitive - Doyen de la Faculté de Psychologie et des sc. de l'éducation >]
	Defraigne, Jean-Olivier [Université de Liège - ULg > Département des sciences cliniques > Chirurgie cardio-vasculaire et thoracique >]
	Boniver, Jacques [Université de Liège - ULg > Département des sciences biomédicales et précliniques > Anatomie et cytologie pathologiques >]
	Bourguignon, Jean-Pierre [Université de Liège - ULg > Département des sciences cliniques > Pédiatrie - IFRES >]
Publication date :	Sep-2009
Journal title :	Medical Education
Publisher :	Blackwell Publishing
Volume :	43
Pages :	854-865
Peer reviewed :	Yes (verified by ORBi)
Audience :	International
ISSN :	0308-0110
e-ISSN :	1365-2923
Keywords :	[en] Biomedical Reasoning ; Knowledge ; Problem-Based Learning ; Higher Education ; ascertainment degree
Abstract :	[en] CONTEXT: Since 2000, problem-based learning (PBL) seminars have been introduced into the curriculum of medical studies at the University of Liège. We aimed to carry out a cross-sectional investigation of the maturational increase in biomedical reasoning capacity in comparison with factual knowledge retention throughout the curriculum. METHODS: We administered a factual knowledge test (i.e. a true ⁄ false test with ascertainment degree) and a biomedical reasoning test (i.e. an adapted script concordance test [SCT]) to 104 students (Years 3–6) and a reference panel. The selected topic was endocrinology. RESULTS: On the SCT, the students obtained higher scores in Years 5 and 6 than in Years 3 and 4. In Year 3, the scores obtained on SCT questions in a new context indicated transfer of reasoning skills. On the true ⁄ false test, the scores of Year 3 students were significantly higher than those of students in the other three year groups. A positive correlation between SCT scores and true ⁄ false test scores was observed only for students in Years 3 and 4. In each group, the ascertainment degree scores were higher for correct than for incorrect responses and the difference was calculated as an index of self-estimation of core knowledge. This index was found to be positively correlated to SCT scores in the four year groups studied. CONCLUSIONS: Biomedical reasoning skills are evidenced early in a curriculum involving PBL and further increase during training. This is accompanied by a decrease in factual knowledge retention. The self-estimation of core knowledge appears to be related to reasoning capacity, which suggests there is a link between the two processes.
Funders :	Fonds de la Recherche Fondamentale Collective d'Initiative des Chercheurs - FRFC
Permalink :	http://hdl.handle.net/2268/110561

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