The Single-Group, Pre- and Posttest Design in Nursing Education Research: It's Time to Move on

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Educational Interventions Research
• Methodology in Health Professions Education

Background:

• The science of nursing education relies on effective educational interventions.
• The single-group, pre- and posttest design is frequently used but offers limited evidence.
• This design's limitations hinder robust conclusions about intervention effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the limitations of the single-group, pre- and posttest design in nursing education research.
• To review the requirements for establishing stronger causal arguments in intervention studies.
• To encourage the adoption of superior study designs for nursing education research.

Main Methods:

• Critical review of common research designs in nursing education.
• Analysis of methodological requirements for causality.
• Discussion of alternative study designs and procedures.

Main Results:

• The single-group, pre- and posttest design provides insufficient evidence for intervention effectiveness.
• Establishing causality requires designs that control for confounding variables.
• Alternative designs can significantly strengthen claims of intervention effectiveness.

Conclusions:

• Nursing education researchers must move beyond the single-group, pre- and posttest design.
• Employing rigorous study designs is crucial for advancing the science of nursing education.
• Stronger methodologies lead to more credible evidence of intervention impact.