title: Analysis of verbal interactions in tutorial groups: a process study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Collaborative learning, including problem-based learning (PBL), is a powerful learning method. Group interaction plays a crucial role in stimulating student learning. However, few studies on learning processes in medical education have examined group interactions. Most studies on collaboration within PBL used self-reported data rather than observational data. We investigated the following types of interactions in PBL tutorial groups: learning-oriented interactions (exploratory questioning, cumulative reasoning and handling conflicts about knowledge); procedural interactions, and irrelevant/off-task interactions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The central question concerned how much time is spent on the different types of interaction during group sessions and how the types of interaction are distributed over the meeting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four tutorial group sessions in Year 2 of the PBL undergraduate curriculum of Maastricht Medical School were videotaped and analysed. The sessions concerned the reporting phase of the PBL process. We analysed the interactions using a coding scheme distinguishing several verbal interaction types, such as questions, arguments and evaluations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Learning-orientated interactions accounted for 80% of the interactions, with cumulative reasoning, exploratory questioning and handling conflicts about knowledge accounting for about 63%, 10% and 7% of the interactions, respectively. Exploratory questioning often preceded cumulative reasoning. Both types occurred throughout the meeting. Handling conflicts mainly occurred after the first 20 minutes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Task involvement in the tutorial groups was high. All types of learning-orientated interactions were observed. Relatively little time was spent on exploratory questions and handling conflicts about knowledge. Problem-based learning training should pay special attention to stimulating discussion about contradictory information.
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational Development and Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands. a.pleijers@educ.unimaas.nl
authors.forename: Astrid J S F
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Visschers-Pleijers
authors.forename: Diana H J M
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Dolmans
authors.forename: Bas A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: de Leng
authors.forename: Ineke H A P
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Wolfhagen
authors.forename: Cees P M
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: van der Vleuten
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods*; D006126:Group Processes; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D009426:Netherlands; D018794:Problem-Based Learning; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*