Project-Based Learning and Traditional Online Teaching of Research Methods During COVID-19: An Investigation of Research Self-Efficacy and Student Satisfaction
Research methods courses are a critical component of teaching the applications of evidence based practice in the health professions. With the shift to online learning during the Covid-19 pandemic, new possibilities for teaching research methods have emerged. This case study compares two 5-week async...
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2021-05-01
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doaj-3ba7c4746be44f3398b4e4b02f9bacc42021-05-28T09:54:07ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Education2504-284X2021-05-01610.3389/feduc.2021.662850662850Project-Based Learning and Traditional Online Teaching of Research Methods During COVID-19: An Investigation of Research Self-Efficacy and Student SatisfactionMelissa RandazzoRyan PrieferReem Khamis-DakwarResearch methods courses are a critical component of teaching the applications of evidence based practice in the health professions. With the shift to online learning during the Covid-19 pandemic, new possibilities for teaching research methods have emerged. This case study compares two 5-week asynchronous online graduate level research methods courses in the field of Communication Sciences and Disorders. One online section of the course used traditional methods (TDL) common in face-to-face courses with recorded slide-based lectures, written discussion forums, and a final presentation. The other online section of the course used project-based learning (PBL), which consisted of weekly projects that forced students to engage with the literature and work both collaboratively and autonomously. We measured students’ research self-efficacy and course satisfaction before and after their courses. Overall, research self-efficacy was higher for the TDL class at both time points. However, the PBL class showed a higher percent increase in research self-efficacy, specifically for more difficult and unfamiliar tasks like statistical analysis. Students in both courses were equally satisfied with their course and instructor; however, students in the PBL class reported a greater workload and level of difficulty. We interpret the results as showing benefits of PBL in facilitating greater engagement with the research literature and course content; while TDL had advantages in students’ confidence with the course, likely due to familiarity with the instructional format.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2021.662850/fullresearch methodsproject-based learningonlineresearch self-efficacyCOVID-19 |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Melissa Randazzo Ryan Priefer Reem Khamis-Dakwar |
spellingShingle |
Melissa Randazzo Ryan Priefer Reem Khamis-Dakwar Project-Based Learning and Traditional Online Teaching of Research Methods During COVID-19: An Investigation of Research Self-Efficacy and Student Satisfaction Frontiers in Education research methods project-based learning online research self-efficacy COVID-19 |
author_facet |
Melissa Randazzo Ryan Priefer Reem Khamis-Dakwar |
author_sort |
Melissa Randazzo |
title |
Project-Based Learning and Traditional Online Teaching of Research Methods During COVID-19: An Investigation of Research Self-Efficacy and Student Satisfaction |
title_short |
Project-Based Learning and Traditional Online Teaching of Research Methods During COVID-19: An Investigation of Research Self-Efficacy and Student Satisfaction |
title_full |
Project-Based Learning and Traditional Online Teaching of Research Methods During COVID-19: An Investigation of Research Self-Efficacy and Student Satisfaction |
title_fullStr |
Project-Based Learning and Traditional Online Teaching of Research Methods During COVID-19: An Investigation of Research Self-Efficacy and Student Satisfaction |
title_full_unstemmed |
Project-Based Learning and Traditional Online Teaching of Research Methods During COVID-19: An Investigation of Research Self-Efficacy and Student Satisfaction |
title_sort |
project-based learning and traditional online teaching of research methods during covid-19: an investigation of research self-efficacy and student satisfaction |
publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
series |
Frontiers in Education |
issn |
2504-284X |
publishDate |
2021-05-01 |
description |
Research methods courses are a critical component of teaching the applications of evidence based practice in the health professions. With the shift to online learning during the Covid-19 pandemic, new possibilities for teaching research methods have emerged. This case study compares two 5-week asynchronous online graduate level research methods courses in the field of Communication Sciences and Disorders. One online section of the course used traditional methods (TDL) common in face-to-face courses with recorded slide-based lectures, written discussion forums, and a final presentation. The other online section of the course used project-based learning (PBL), which consisted of weekly projects that forced students to engage with the literature and work both collaboratively and autonomously. We measured students’ research self-efficacy and course satisfaction before and after their courses. Overall, research self-efficacy was higher for the TDL class at both time points. However, the PBL class showed a higher percent increase in research self-efficacy, specifically for more difficult and unfamiliar tasks like statistical analysis. Students in both courses were equally satisfied with their course and instructor; however, students in the PBL class reported a greater workload and level of difficulty. We interpret the results as showing benefits of PBL in facilitating greater engagement with the research literature and course content; while TDL had advantages in students’ confidence with the course, likely due to familiarity with the instructional format. |
topic |
research methods project-based learning online research self-efficacy COVID-19 |
url |
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2021.662850/full |
work_keys_str_mv |
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