Developing a Scale for Both Students and Facilitators to Evaluate Problem Based Learning Efficiency

Aim: The purpose of this study was to make validity and reliability analyses of a scale developed for both students and facilitators to evaluate PBL efficiency in medical education. Material and Method: A measuring tool was developed for the students and PBL facilitators by compiling evidence based facts in literature showing benefits of PBL against classical education. Scale for students (SS) composed of 19 items classified in 3 dimensions (knowledge (5), skill (7) and attitude (7)) while the scale for the facilitators (SF) had 14 items in one dimension. As an answer to the main question the participants were asked to give a score for each subject statement on a five item Likert-type scale between 1 and 5. First year medical students in Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine (n=1265) and their facilitators in PBL sessions (n=392) composed of the study group. Results: Validity analysis results of the SS are as follows: Confirmatory Fit Index (CFI) >0.9, Standardized Root Mean Square Residual (SRMR)=0.05 and Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) = 0.07. Cronbach Alpha values for knowledge, skill and attitude dimensions were found 0.72, 0.81 and 0.73 respectively. Total reliability score of the SS was calculated 0.86. Validity analysis results of the SF are as follows: Confirmatory Fit Index (CFI) >0.9, Standardized Root Mean Square Residual (SRMR)=0.04 and Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) = 0.09. Cronbach Alpha value was found 0.96. Discussion: Consequently, the SS was determined to be valid and reliable for 16 items and the SF for 14 items