ERIC Number: EJ1099626
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016
Pages: 7
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1913-9020
EISSN: N/A
Does Problem-Based Learning Improve Problem Solving Skills?--A Study among Business Undergraduates at Malaysian Premier Technical University
Kadir, Z. Abdul; Abdullah, N. H.; Anthony, E.; Salleh, B. Mohd; Kamarulzaman, R.
International Education Studies, v9 n5 p166-172 2016
Problem-based Learning (PBL) approach has been widely used in various disciplines since it is claimed to improve students' soft skills. However, empirical supports on the effect of PBL on problem solving skills have been lacking and anecdotal in nature. This study aimed to determine the effect of PBL approach on students' problem solving skills using a quasi-experimental non-equivalent group pretest--posttest design. Fifty management students from a premier Technical University in Malaysia were assigned to experimental and control groups. In the experimental group, students were given four problems to be solved and their solutions of the problems given were assessed in terms of their accuracy and quality. Students in the control group received conventional classroom instructional design. Results indicate that students in the experimental group have better problem solving skills (z: -4.220, p: 0.001 for accuracy and z: -2.594, p: 0.009 for quality) compared to those who were not exposed to the PBL approach. This finding substantiates the use of PBL as an effective instructional tool to improve students' problem solving abilities.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Problem Solving, Problem Based Learning, Undergraduate Students, Business Administration Education, Teaching Methods, Quasiexperimental Design, Pretests Posttests, Experimental Groups, Control Groups, Conventional Instruction, Comparative Analysis, Statistical Analysis, Nonparametric Statistics
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Malaysia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A