Be the Qualitative Researcher: A Team-Based, Active Learning Strategy Using Popular Music Lyrics

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Qualitative Research Methods

Background:

• Traditional lectures often fall short in engaging undergraduate nursing students with complex qualitative research concepts.
• Active learning strategies are crucial for enhancing student comprehension and retention in higher education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel, team-based active learning activity for teaching qualitative research to undergraduate nursing students.
• To assess student satisfaction with this innovative pedagogical approach compared to conventional teaching methods.

Main Methods:

• Students worked in small groups to analyze Taylor Swift's song lyrics as qualitative data.
• The activity involved developing a coding scheme, performing content and thematic analysis, and creating a collaborative presentation (Google Slides).

Main Results:

• The activity successfully facilitated students' understanding of qualitative research concepts, including data analysis and thematic interpretation.
• Anonymous post-activity surveys revealed significantly higher student satisfaction with this active learning approach over didactic lectures.

Conclusions:

• Team-based analysis of popular culture artifacts, such as song lyrics, offers an effective and engaging method for teaching qualitative research in nursing education.
• Active learning strategies incorporating relatable content can enhance student engagement and learning outcomes in nursing programs.