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Background: Nurses are often faced with complex situations that made them to make ethical decisions; and to make such decisions, they need to possess the power of moral reasoning. Studies in Iran show that the majority of nursing students lack proper ethical development. Socratic teaching is a student-centered method which is strongly opposed to the lecturing method. Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the impacts of Socratic questioning on the moral reasoning of the nursing students. Research design: In a quasi-experimental study, Crisham’s Nursing Dilemma Test was used to evaluate the results of three groups before, immediately after, and 2 months after intervention. The data were analyzed using the SPSS statistical software (v 15). Participants and research context: Through random allocation, 103 nursing students were divided into three groups. In experiment group 1 (37 students), intervention consisted of Socratic questioning-based sessions on ethics and how to deal with moral dilemmas; experiment group 2 (33 students) attended a 4-h workshop; and the control group (33 students) was not subject to any interventions. Signed informed consent forms: This research was approved by the Ethics Committee of the University. All the participants signed written informed consents. Findings: There were significant differences between experiment group 1 and experiment group 2’s pre-test and post-test scores on moral reasoning (p ≤ 0.001, p ≤ 0.001), nursing principled thinking (p ≤ 0.001, p ≤ 0.001), and practical considerations (p ≤ 0.001, p ≤ 0.031). Discussion: Both the teaching approaches improved the subjects’ moral reasoning; however, Socratic questioning proved more effective than lecturing. Compared to other similar studies in Iran and other countries, the students had inadequate moral reasoning competence. Conclusion: This study confirms the need for the development of an efficient course on ethics in the nursing curriculum. Also, it appears that Socratic questioning is an effective method to teach nursing ethics and develop nursing students’ competence of moral reasoning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Using the appropriate teaching methods, nursing educators are trying to improve students` both effective learning and knowledge retention. The survey reveals the impact of lecturing and problem-based learning in academic achievement and knowledge retention in the pediatrics course. Methods: A quasi-experimental design was used to compare the effects of the two teaching methods. 56 nursing students who had taken the pediatric course were selected through census in two semesters in school of nursing and midwifery of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. Pediatrics was taught in lecturing and problem-based learning methods. Then, the academic achievement and knowledge retention were evaluated by tests. Data analysis was carried out in descriptive statistical and paired T test. Results: Findings revealed that the average of the scores in pre and post tests as well as knowledge retention tests were increased in both teaching methods. The mean difference of scores in the two methods was not a significant difference between the pre test and post test. But, in the post test - Knowledge retention test, the lecturing method scored significantly higher than the other one. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the lecturing method keeps its standing point and value in educational system. Problem-Based Learning method can be of great help along with the lecturing to improve students' achievement and knowledge retention.. Also, PBL is feasible enough in teaching pediatric nursing to ensure the achievement of educational objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Self-regulating learning is an important educational and research process which is influenced by the motivational beliefs. Some of the educational methods are more effective on the motivational beliefs and self-regulating. This work was accomplished for comparing the effects of cooperative learning method to lecture method on the motivational beliefs and self-regulating learning strategies among students. Methods: This quasi-experimental research was accomplished on BA students of nursing and midwifery passing their management course in 6th semester in Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (n=50) during the second semester of 2009-2010 academic years. This course was held for 6 sessions and each session took 2 hours. Students were placed into cooperative learning and lecturing training groups based on random block plan. The measuring tools of the study were the demographic information and Pinterich and Degrout’s (1990) reliable and valid questionnaires for motivational beliefs and self-regulating learning strategies (MSLQ). Data was analyzed using t-tests, Mann- Whitney test, K-Square, variance analyzing and covariance analyzing. Results: The average of the subscales of motivational beliefs and self-regulating strategies in the cooperative learning group was significantly more than that of lecture group (p<0.05) and the mean of test anxiety in the cooperative learning group was significantly lower than that of lecture group (p<0.05). Conclusion: With regard to the results of the study, it is suggested apply the active training methods that can ground for more cooperation by students with the educational topics in order to be prepared for increasing motivated beliefs and self-regulating strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lecturing is the most common teaching method in the medical education. Problem-based learning (PBL) is one of the active and student-oriented learning strategies which have gained attention in the recent decades., Objective: To compare the effect of PBL and lecture-based learning (LBL) on the satisfaction and learning progress of undergraduate midwifery students., Design: Quasi-experimental study., Settings: Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamedan, Iran., Participants: Fifty-six undergraduate midwifery students in two different classes participated in the study., Methods: Randomly, one class (experimental group) received PBL in addition to LBL and the other one (control group) received traditional LBL. "Pregnancy and childbirth", a 2-credit course, was selected for this purpose. Scientific pre-test and post-tests were performed and satisfaction questionnaire was filled in for both groups. A questionnaire to compare PBL and LBL was filled in only for the experimental group. The instruments used in the study were "Demographic data form", "Students' learning progress test", "Student's satisfaction of teaching method", and the "Teaching method evaluation"., Results: Learning progress in PBL group was significantly more than control group. PBL improved application of theory lesson in clinical practice, increased learning motivation and enhanced educational activity in class. There was more satisfaction with PBL method. There was no relationship between the students' satisfaction and learning progress. 81.8% of students considered PBL the more suitable and better method., Conclusion: PBL should be applied more in undergraduate midwifery courses. According to these advantages, the quality of midwifery education can be improved via this method., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)