Comparison of attitudes and cognitive achievement of nursing students in three instructional strategies

This study is a comparison of the attitudes and the cognitive achievement of nursing students in three instructional strategies (the traditional lecture, black and white televised instruction, and independent color televised instruction via the Dial Access Information Retrieval System). Though only thirty-one percent (31%) of students indicated prior exposure to independent study methology, sixty percent (60%) identified a desire for active involvement in courses of study. The only significant finding regarding attitudes toward the three strategies was a preference for an greater interest in color videotapes than for black and white televised material. No significant differences in cognitive achievement were noted between any of the three strategies. Implications from the study for curriculum revision are discussed, stressing the probable value of maintaining traditional techniques concurrent with innovative methodological experimentation.