Comparison of Two Teaching Methods on Nursing Students’ Learning and Retention: Concept Mapping or Lecture?

Introduction: Nursing educators should use teaching methods that promote deep learning and retention. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of lecture and concept mapping approaches on the nursing students’ learning and knowledge retention in cardiovascular nursing course. Methods: In a quasi- experimental study on two groups with pre test -post test design, 66 fifth-semester nursing students were selected through census method and randomly divided into two groups (experiment and control). After pre test, control and experiment groups received education for 8 sessions during 2 month, either by lecture method or concept mapping, respectively. Then, they took the post-test and after 4 weeks the retention test. To gather data, an achievement test consisting of two parts and with a score range of 0-40 was used which evaluated students knowledge and meaningful learning in cardiovascular nursing course. The data were analyzed through repeated measure ANOVA and independent T tests. Results: The mean of exam scores in the lecture group changed from 11.87± 2.48 in pre test to 25.69±2.49 in post test and to 21.21±3.37 in retention test. The mean of learning scores in the concept mapping group changed from 15.30± 5.4 in pre test to 32.21±2.81in post-test and to 26.72±2.84 in retention test. The differences of mean scores were statistically significant within both groups (P<0.05). The mean of score increments from pretest to post test in concept mapping group (16.90± 5.18) was more than lecture group (13.81± 3.12, t=2.394, p<0.005). Conclusion: Both methods are effective ways to improve learning and retention scores in nursing students but concept mapping method is more effective.