TY - JOUR
T1 - Can students adequately evaluate the activities of their peers in PBL?
AU - Kamp, Rachelle J. A.
AU - Dolmans, Diana H. J. M.
AU - Van Berkel, Henk J. M.
AU - Schmidt, Henk G.
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - Background: In problem-based learning (PBL), high-quality discussions are crucial for student learning. The quality of the discussion is affected by the quality of the contributions students make during PBL tutorials. Aim: This study investigated whether students are able to evaluate the activities of their peers in PBL groups in a reliable and valid way. Method: For this purpose, the Maastricht-Peer Activity Rating Scale (M-PARS) was developed. The M-PARS was well-founded on the literature about effective tutorial performance. With this scale, students (N == 196) were evaluated by their peers on three main aspects: their constructive, collaborative, and motivational contributions to the group. Results: A confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated that the data fitted the three-factor model reasonably well. The generalizability studies demonstrated good internal consistency when students were evaluated by, at least, four of their peers. Furthermore, Hancock's coefficients indicated good construct reliability. Conclusions: The results prove that peers are able to provide reliable and valid information about a student's active participation in the tutorial group, if at least four peer ratings are attainable, out of a group of eight students. In conclusion, the M-PARS is a valid and reliable instrument.
AB - Background: In problem-based learning (PBL), high-quality discussions are crucial for student learning. The quality of the discussion is affected by the quality of the contributions students make during PBL tutorials. Aim: This study investigated whether students are able to evaluate the activities of their peers in PBL groups in a reliable and valid way. Method: For this purpose, the Maastricht-Peer Activity Rating Scale (M-PARS) was developed. The M-PARS was well-founded on the literature about effective tutorial performance. With this scale, students (N == 196) were evaluated by their peers on three main aspects: their constructive, collaborative, and motivational contributions to the group. Results: A confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated that the data fitted the three-factor model reasonably well. The generalizability studies demonstrated good internal consistency when students were evaluated by, at least, four of their peers. Furthermore, Hancock's coefficients indicated good construct reliability. Conclusions: The results prove that peers are able to provide reliable and valid information about a student's active participation in the tutorial group, if at least four peer ratings are attainable, out of a group of eight students. In conclusion, the M-PARS is a valid and reliable instrument.
U2 - 10.3109/0142159X.2010.509766
DO - 10.3109/0142159X.2010.509766
M3 - Article
C2 - 20874030
SN - 0142-159X
VL - 33
SP - 145
EP - 150
JO - Medical Teacher
JF - Medical Teacher
IS - 2
ER -