title: An exploration of tutors' experiences of facilitating problem-based learning. Part 1--an educational research methodology combining innovation and philosophical tradition.
abstract: The use of problem-based learning (PBL) in Health Professional curricula is becoming more wide spread. Although the way in which the tutor facilitates PBL can have a major impact on students' learning (Andrews and Jones 1996), the literature provides little consistency as to how the tutor can effectively facilitate PBL (Haith-Cooper 2000). It is therefore important to examine the facilitation role to promote effective learning through the use of PBL. This article is the first of two parts exploring a study that was undertaken to investigate tutors' experiences of facilitating PBL. This part focuses on the methodology and the combining of innovative processes with traditional philosophical traditions to develop a systematic educational research methodology. The study was undertaken respecting the philosophy of hermeneutic phenomenology but utilised alternative data collection and analysis technique. Video conferencing and e-mail were used in conjunction with more traditional processes to access a worldwide sample. This paper explores some of the issues that arose when undertaking such a study. The second article then focuses on exploring the findings of the study and their implications for the facilitation of PBL.
authors.affiliation: Division of Midwifery and Women's Health, School of Health Studies, University of Bradford, 25 Trinity Road, Bradford, West Yorks, BO5 OBB, UK.
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haith-Cooper
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D003479:Curriculum; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000379:methods*; D034742:Electronic Mail; D005181:Faculty, Nursing; D006801:Humans; D017145:Models, Educational; D009656:North America; D015402:Nursing Education Research / Q000379:methods*; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research / Q000379:methods*; D010687:Philosophy, Nursing; D018794:Problem-Based Learning / Q000379:methods*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012107:Research Design; D013548:Sweden; D013685:Telecommunications; D006113:United Kingdom