Effectiveness of the Concept Map in Nursing Education; Developing a Tool for Student Opinions

Abstract

Background: To test the effectiveness of concept maps used in the education of nursing students in the field of health, we need to use measurement tools. Objectives: The purpose of the study was to develop "Scale for the Effectiveness of Concept Maps in Nursing Education (SECMNE)". Methods: This was a methodological instrument development study. This study was conducted in a university’s health of nursing department in Tokat, Turkey, between September and December 2019. The universe of this study, which used a methodological design, consisted of third and fourth-year nursing students, and the sample size was 174. The item pool was formed with 86 items. The content validity was assessed by 9 experts. The 86-item draft scale that had a 4-point Likert type scoring system. Content validity ratio (CVR), Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) test, Bartlett test, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), Cronbach’s alpha, and Pearson product-moment correlation analysis techniques were used for the validity and reliability analyses of the scale. Results: The scale consists of 3 subscales (integration of information, integration of the care plan, perception) and 30 items. Scale’s Cronbach alpha is 0.97. Conclusion: The scale developed in this study was concluded to be a valid and reliable measurement tool that can be used to measure the effectiveness of the concept maps in nursing education. The SECMNE can help nursing student identify the lack of knowledge and negative attitudes about concept map in nursing education and prepare nursing care plan.