title: Student learning in clinical nursing education: perceptions of the relationship between assessment and learning.
abstract: There is a wealth of literature demonstrating that clinical nursing education is an important part of the baccalaureate programme in preparing students for entry into the nursing profession. While much attention has been given to the factors that can affect learning outcomes in the clinical environment, student and teacher perceptions of the relationship between assessment and learning has remained an under-researched area. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions about what students learned and how they learned during their clinical practicum, and to examine the role played by assessment in influencing student learning. Data were collected through a series of focus group interviews with groups of nursing students, graduates, and teachers. It was revealed that students' learning during the clinical practicum was, to a large extent, affected by their perceptions of the assessment tasks. As a result, they adopted a surface approach to learning and focused on preparing for the assessment tasks to the detriment of their learning. Assessment, in this study, exerted what has been described as a negative "backwash" effect on learning. Since assessment may also foster student learning in a positive way, suggestions are offered as to what can be done to bring about a positive "backwash" effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Studies, William MW Mong Block, Faculty of Medicine Building, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China. afytiwar@hkucc.hku.hk
authors.forename: Agnes
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tiwari
authors.forename: Dave
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Yuen
authors.forename: Rose
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Tracy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fung
authors.forename: Sophia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D003479:Curriculum / Q000592:standards; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000592:standards*; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000592:standards*; D005181:Faculty, Nursing; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008611:Mentors / Q000523:psychology; D033262:Narration; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009341:Negativism; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009742:Nursing Theory; D011588:Psychology, Educational; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012951:Socialization; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014163:Transfer, Psychology