title: Learning style preference and student aptitude for concept maps.
abstract: Acknowledging that individuals' preferences for learning vary, faculty in an undergraduate nursing program questioned whether a student's learning style is an indicator of aptitude in developing concept maps. The purpose of this research was to describe the relationship between nursing students' learning style preference and aptitude for concept maps. The sample included 120 undergraduate students enrolled in the adult health nursing course. Students created one concept map and completed two instruments: the Learning Style Survey and the Concept Map Survey. Data included Learning Style Survey scores, grade for the concept map, and grade for the adult health course. No significant difference was found between learning style preference and concept map grades. Thematic analysis of the qualitative survey data yielded further insight into students' preferences for creating concept maps.
authors.affiliation: Saint Xavier University, Chicago, IL 60655, USA. kostovich@sxu.edu
authors.forename: Carol T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Kostovich
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Poradzisz
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: Karen L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: O'Brien
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001076:Aptitude; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001296:Audiovisual Aids; D002755:Choice Behavior; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003210:Concept Formation; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000379:methods*; D030141:Feedback, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D015146:Midwestern United States; D017145:Models, Educational; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011588:Psychology, Educational; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013850:Thinking