The Effect of Two Teaching Methods on Nursing Students Perception of Psycho-Social Climate of the Classroom: Jigsaw Puzzle Versus Programmed Lecture

Introduction: Cooperative teaching techniques such as jigsaw technique may encompass positive effects in promoting psycho-social climate of learning environments. The aim of this study was to determine nursing students' perception regarding psycho-social environment of the classroom and investigating the effects of two methods of programmed lecture and jigsaw puzzle in promoting students' perception regarding this environment. Methods: In a quasi-experimental study with pretest-posttest design, fifty nursing students of second year in Tabriz University of Medical Sciences participated. After establishing students' primary perception concern-ing psycho-social environment of classrooms, students were divided into two groups and passed 6 sessions on nursing care in gastrointestinal diseases. Educating these students was carried out employing two diffe-rent methods of programmed lecture (24 students) and jigsaw (26 students). At the end of course, nursing students' perception regarding psycho-social environment of the classroom was again assessed. Students' perception was assessed using College and University Classroom Environment Inventory (CUCEI). Data was analyzed by SPSS software using Wilcoxon and Mann Whitney tests. Results: Nursing students' perception concerning psycho-social environment of classrooms was in an average level and both methods of programmed lecture and jigsaw puzzle promoted this perception signifi-cantly. There was no significant difference between these two active methods concerning their effect on nurs-ing students' perception of psycho-social environment of the class. Conclusion: With regard to the appropriate effect of these two educational techniques, programmed lecture and jigsaw puzzle, nursing teachers are recommended to further use of these two methods in theoretical teaching to their students to promote their students interest into educational topics and learning environ-ments.