Affective learning in medical education.
The purpose of this study was to test a theory of affective learning and to develop a data-gathering instrument for evaluation of affective learning. Two primary areas of affective learning were conceptualized for study: coping with feelings about professional knowledge and coping with feelings about the necessity for development of professional attitudes toward illness and disability and toward death and dying. This two-year study project (1977-1979) involved a total of 70 first-year medical students. Data were obtained by means of observing students in small group discussions. The observation instrument consisted of a checklist of behaviors. Observer reliability was tested. Study results suggested that students progress through phases of affective learning as described in the theory. Implications of the findings are discussed.
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D004644:Emotions; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008960:Models, Psychological; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*