Assessing the Needs of Students in Veterinary Medicine for Preferred Delivery Methods: Focus Group

Authors

  • Elena-Mirela Samfira Banat’s University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine “King Michael I of Romania”, Address – 300645 - Timişoara, Calea Aradului no. 119, Romania
  • Georgeta Raţă Banat’s University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine “King Michael I of Romania”, Address – 300645 - Timişoara, Calea Aradului no. 119, Romania

Keywords:

assessment, education needs, focus group method, students, tertiary level, and veterinary medicine

Abstract

The goal of the paper is to presents the results of a focus group with students in veterinary medicine, asked about their preferred delivery methods. The research is a preliminary one in a longer series of studies dedicated to the design and implementation of a problem-based learning methodology for the students. The materials used consisted in a series of questions that were submitted for debate during a focus group organised with 12 students in veterinary medicine. The method used was the focus group. The degree of novelty of the paper is high. Results show that students in veterinary medicine have already used problem-based learning without even knowing it. The research limitations consist in the fact that the authors organised the focus group on a small sample of students. The usefulness of the paper consists in the fact that it will help other academics see better through the eyes of their students and try to meet their expectations. The originality of the paper is real: there has been no such research in Romanian higher education in veterinary medicine. The importance of the paper resides in its disclosure of facts and feelings unknown to both the authors of the paper and readers.

References

Liamputtong, Pranee, Focus Group Methodology: Principles and Practice, Sage Publications, London – Thousand Oaks, CA – New Delhi – Singapore, 2011.

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Moore, Dale A., Klingborg, Donald J., Brenenr, James S. and Gotz, Adrienne A., Using Focus Groups for Continuing Veterinary Medical Education Needs Assessment and Program Planning. Journal of Veterinary Medical Education, 2002, 20 (2), 101-104.

Osters, Sandi and Tiu, F. Simone, Writing Measurable Learning Outcomes, 2012, 1-10. Home page address: http://www.gavilan.edu/research/spd/Writing-Measurable-Learning-Outcomes.pdf.

Data Collection Methods for Program Evaluation: Focus Groups, Evaluation Briefs, 2008, 13, 1-2.

Guidelines for Conducting a Focus Group, 2005. Home page address: http://assessment.aas.duke.edu/documents/How_to_Conduct_a_Focus_Group.pdf.

Focus Group Questionnaire Fundamentals – Basic Questions, 2012. Home page address: http://www.focusgrouptips.com/focus-group-questionnaire.html.

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Published

2023-09-05