Recalling the definitions with a mind mapping and self-learning technique: A comparative study in undergraduate students

Abstract

Around 13.34% weightage is given to the definitions of university exams in nursing.1 Nursing educators need to help the students in memorizing terms, so that students can write the correct concept in the exam effectively.Aim: To assess the comparison of mind mapping and self-learning techniques in recalling the definition. Design: A comparative approach was used to understand the difference between the knowledge of self-learning group and mind mapping group . Total 5 definitions were used from the nursing foundation textbook .To obtain baseline data, subjects completed a short test and it is randomly allocated to two groups: ‘self-learning’ and ‘mind map’. After a one hour of study period short test was taken. Recalling was measured after a week later. Setting: Symbiosis College of Nursing, Symbiosis International University, India. Subjects: 48 First year Bachelor Nursing Students. Results: Mean score in Mind mapping group were 5.87 and 5 in session one and two . For self-learning group, the mean effect was 6.21and 4.67 in the first and second sessions. Hence Mind mapping technique proven to be more effective than Self learning method in recalling the definition. Two sample t-test for comparison of effect of Mind mapping vs self-learning method.t-values for this comparison were –0.76 and 0.62 . Corresponding p-values were 0.45 and 0.54 and the p-value <0.05, so the null hypothesis is rejected. Conclusion: mind maps were proved affectivity as a way of recalling the definitions in the second session. Students need to be encouraged to adopt this approach more than the other conventional learning techniques.