Enhancing critical analysis and problem-solving skills in undergraduate psychology: An evaluation of a collaborative learning and problem-based learning approach

Australian Journal of Psychology

Volumn 65, Issue 1, 2013, Pages 38-45

  Karantzas, Gery C ^a   Avery, Michelle R ^a   MacFarlane, Susie ^a   Mussap, Alexander ^a   Tooley, Gregory ^a   Hazelwood, Zoe ^b   Fitness, Julie ^c  

^a DEAKIN UNIVERSITY   (Australia)

^b QUEENSLAND UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY   (Australia)

^c MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY   (Australia)

Author keywords

Collaborative learning; Critical analysis; Graduate attributes; Problem based learning; Problem solving

Indexed keywords

EID: 84873420651     PISSN: 00049530     EISSN: 17429536     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1111/ajpy.12009     Document Type: Article

References (34)

1. Albanese, M., & Mitchell, S. (1993). Problem-based learning: A review of literature on its outcomes and implementation issues. Academic Medicine, 68, 52-81.
2. Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC). (2010). Rules for accreditation and accreditation standards for psychology courses. Retrieved from http://www.psychologycouncil.org.au/Assets/Files/APAC_Rules_for_Accreditation_&_Accreditation_Standards_for_Psychology_Courses_Ver_10_June_2010.pdf.
3. Bailin, S., & Seigel, H. (2003). Critical thinking skills. In N. Blake, P. Smeyers, R. D. Smith, & P. Standish (Eds.), The Blackwell guide to the philosophy of education (pp. 180-193). Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing.
4. Barrie, S., Smith, C., & Hughes, C. (2009). The national graduate attributes project: Key issues to consider in the renewal of learning and teaching experiences to foster graduate attribute. Retrieved October, 26, 2012, from http://www.olt.gov.au/resources.
5. Barrie, S. C. (2006). Understanding what we mean by the generic attributes of graduates. Higher Education, 51, 215-241. doi:10.1007/s10734-004-6384-7.
6. Biggs, J., Kember, D., & Leung, D. Y. P. (2001). The revised two-factor Study Process Questionnaire: R-SPQ-2F. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 71, 133-149. doi:10.1348/000709901158433.
7. Blundel, W. E. (2001). Collaborative learning through the art of writing. London: Routledge.
8. Boud, D., & Falchikov, N. (2006). Aligning assessment with long-term learning. Assessment Evaluation in Higher Education, 31, 399-413. doi:10.1080/02602930600679050.
9. Cranney, J., & Dunn, D. S. (2011). Psychological literacy and the psychologically literate citizen: New frontiers for a global discipline. In J. Cranney & D. S. Dunn (Eds.), The psychologically literate citizen: Foundations and global perspectives (pp. 3-12). New York: Oxford University Press.
10. Cranney, J., Provost, S., Katsikitis, M., Martin, F., White, F., & Cohen, L. (2008). Designing a diverse, future-oriented vision for undergraduate psychology in Australia. Retrieved October 26, 2012, from http://www.olt.gov.au/resources.
11. Dillenbourg, P. (1999). What do you mean by collaborative learning? In P. Dillenbourg (Ed.), Collaborative-learning: Cognitive and computational approaches (pp. 1-19). Oxford: Elsevier.
12. Duff, A., Boyle, E., Dunleavy, K., & Ferguson, J. (2004). The relationship between personality, approach to learning and academic performance. Personality and Individual Differences, 36, 1907-1920.
13. Duncan, T. E., & Duncan, S. C. (2004). An introduction to latent growth curve modeling. Behavior Therapy, 35, 333-363.
14. Dunn, D. S., Saville, B. K., Baker, S. C., & Marek, P. (2013). Evidence-based teaching: Tools and techniques that promote learning in the psychology classroom. Australian Journal of Psychology 65(1), 5-13.
15. Facione, P. A., & Facione, N. C. (1993). Test Mmnual: The California critical thinking skills test, Form A and Form B. Millbrae, CA: The California Academic Press.
16. Hammer, S. J., & Green, W. (2011). Critical thinking in a first year management subject: The relationship between disciplinary learning, academic literacy and learning progression. Higher Education Research & Development, 30, 303-315. doi:10.1080/07294360.2010.501075.
17. Haw, J. (2011). Improving psychological critical thinking in Australian university students. Australian Journal of Psychology, 63, 150-153. doi:10.1111/j.1742-9536.2011.00018.x.
18. Hmelo-Silver, C. E. (2004). Problem-based learning: What and how do students learn? Educational Psychology Review, 16, 235-266.
19. Hossam, H. (2008). The fuzzy world of problem based learning. Medical Teacher, 30, 739-741.
20. Hu, L. T., & Bentler, P. M. (1999). Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling, 6, 1-55.
21. Johnson, D. W., Johnson, R. T., & Smith, K. A. (1998). Cooperative learning returns to college: What evidence is there that it works? Change, 30, 26-35. doi:10.1080/00091389809602629.
22. Moore, T. (2004). The critical thinking debate: How general are general thinking skills. Higher Education Research and Development, 23, 3-18. doi:10.1080/0729436032000168469.
23. Morris, S., Cranney, J., Jeong, J. M., & Mellish, L. (2013). Developing psychological literacy: Student perceptions of graduate attributes. Australian Journal of Psychology 65(1), 54-62.
24. O'Hare, L., & McGuinness, C. (2004). Skills and attributes developed by psychology undergraduates: Ratings by undergraduates, postgraduates, academic psychologists and professional practitioners. Psychology Learning and Teaching, 4, 35-42. doi:10.2304/plat.2004.4.1.35.
25. Prince, M. (2004). Does active learning work? A review of the research. Journal of Engineering Education, 93, 223-231. Retrieved from http://www.jee.org/.
26. Resnick, L. B., Levine, J. M., & Teasley, S. D. (Eds.). (1991). Perspectives on socially shared cognition. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
27. Rockwood, H. S. (1995). Cooperative and collaborative learning. The National Teaching and Learning Forum, 4, 8-9.
28. Roschelle, J., & Teasley, S. (1995). The construction of shared knowledge in collaborative problem solving. In C. E. O'Malley (Ed.), Computer supported collaborative learning (pp. 69-97). Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag.
29. Thomas, T. (2011). Developing first year students' critical thinking skills. Asian Social Science, 7, 26-35. doi:10.5539/ass.v7n4p26.
30. Vallerand, R. J., Pelletier, L. G., Blais, M. R., Briere, N. M., Senecal, C., & Vallieres, E. F. (1992). The Academic Motivation Scale: A measure of intrinsic, extrinsic, and amotivation in education. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 52, 1003-1017. doi:10.1177/0013164492052004025.
31. Williams, R. L., Oliver, R., Allin, J. L., Winn, B., & Booher, C. S. (2003). Psychological critical thinking as a course predictor and outcome variable. Teaching of Psychology, 30, 220-223. doi:10.1207/s15328023top3003_04.
32. Willingham, D. T. (2007) Critical thinking: Why is it so hard to teach? American Educator, Summer, 8-19.
33. Wilson-Doenges, G. & Gurung A. (2013). Benchmarks for scholarly investigations of teaching and learning. Australian Journal of Psychology 65(1), 63-70.
34. Zimmerman, B. J., Kitsantas, A., & Campillo, M. (2005). Evaluación de la autoeficacia regulatoria: Una perspectiva social cognitiva. Evaluar, 5, 1-21.