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| Research article summary (published 29 Nov 2002): |
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Problem-based writing with peer review improves academic performance in physiology.
Full Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine whether problem-based writing with peer review (PW-PR) improves undergraduate student performance on physiology exams. Didactic lectures were replaced with assignments to give students practice explaining their reasoning while solving qualitative problems, thus transferring the responsibility for abstraction and generalization to the students. Performance on exam items about concepts taught using PW-PR was compared with performance on concepts taught using didactic lectures followed by group work. Calibrated Peer Review, a Web-delivered program, was used to collect student essays and to manage anonymous peer review after students "passed" three calibration peer reviews. Results show that the students had difficulty relating concepts. Relationship errors were categorized as (1) problems recognizing levels of organization, (2) problems with cause/effect, and (3) overgeneralizations. For example, some described cells as molecules; others thought that vesicles transport materials through the extracellular fluid. With PW-PR, class discussion was used to confront and resolve such difficulties. Both multiple-choice and essay exam results were better with PW-PR instead of lecture.
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Author information
Author/s: Pelaez, Nancy J (NJ);
Affiliation: Department of Biological Science, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, California 92834, USA. npelaez@fullerton.edu
Journal and publication information
Publication Type: Journal Article
Journal: Advances in physiology education (Adv Physiol Educ), published in United States. (Language: eng)
Reference: 2002-Dec; vol 26 (issue 1-4) : pp 174-84
Dates: Created 2002/08/21; Completed 2003/06/11; Revised 2004/11/17;
PMID: 12189125, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)
Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.
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