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PA Program Research Projects
| Title: |
Assessing Critical Thinking of Health Professional Graduate Students: An Interprofessional Action Research Project |
| Sponsoring Organizations: |
Department of Physician Assistant Studies, Idaho State University, Master of Science in Dental Hygiene, Idaho State University, School of Nursing, Idaho State University, and College of Pharmacy, Idaho State University |
| Dates: |
Data collection begins Aug., 2009 and will continue until Aug., 2012. |
| Principle Investigator: |
Bernadette Howlett, MS, PhD
Assistant Professor of Research, Idaho State University, Department
of Physician Assistant Studies |
| Co-PI's |
- Cathy Arvidson, School of Nursing
- Linda Boyd, Graduate Dental Hygiene
- Cynthia Culbertson, College of Pharmacy
- Cathryn Erickson, Health and Nutrition Sciences Bachelor's student, Physician Assistant Studies Student Research Assistant.
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| Type: |
Multi-disciplinary, cross-over, action research study |
| Funding: |
An ISU Faculty Research grant application is currently in development to be submitted to the Faculty Research Committee |
| Human Subjects: |
This study was approved by the Human Subjects Committee (study number 3286) of Idaho State University on Mar. 2, 2009. |
| Abstract: |
Critical thinking is an essential skill for any health care provider. The teaching and assessment of critical thinking is a multi-dimensional process in terms of evolution of reasoning and modes of assessment. Critical thinking instruction involves a progression from the teaching of foundational knowledge to active learning experiences, culminating in encounters with real life clinical reasoning dilemmas. Assessing the complex set of underlying skills related to critical thinking requires a combination of qualitative and quantitative strategies employed at multiple points over time. A significant body of literature supports the efficacy of teaching critical thinking to health professional students in this manner. The programs participating in this study currently utilize a system such as that described but lack a validated quantitative assessment tool specific to health science reasoning.
The Health Sciences Reasoning Test (HSRT) is a quantitative critical thinking assessment tool which has been shown to provide reliable and valid data with undergraduate health professional students. However, research has yet to demonstrate the efficacy of the HSRT with graduate level health professional students. A tool such as the HSRT could enhance the measurement of student health-related critical thinking development. The creation of reliable and valid tools such as the HSRT is a costly and time-intensive process that can expend vital program resources. The objective of this study, therefore, is to evaluate the HSRT and determine if the tool should be adopted by the participating graduate programs: Physician Assistant Studies, Nursing, Pharmacy and Dental Hygiene.
The purpose of this study is to determine if the Health Sciences Reasoning Test (HSRT), an inventory for assessing critical thinking skills specific to health sciences, is useful in one or both of two areas: 1) as a graduate admissions predictor of student performance; and/or, 2) as a measure of student critical thinking development. Results of the study will be used to determine if the HSRT should be adopted by the participating programs in the College of Health Professions and the College of Pharmacy. The HSRT could be used for admissions and/or for ongoing assessment of student critical thinking development.
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| Contact Information: |
Bernadette Howlett
Research Assistant Professor
howlbern@isu.edu
208-282-3841
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Cathryn Erickson
Student Research Assistant
martcath@isu.edu
208-282-3841 |
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