Entwicklung, Implementation und Evaluation eines beispielbasierten Instruktionsansatzes zur Förderung von Handlungskompetenz im Bereich empirischer Forschungsmethoden

Starting from problems of knowledge acquisition and transfer in the
domain of empirical research methods, an example-based
instructional approach to foster domain-specific action competence
was developed. The heart of the approach are two worked-out
examples which include most contents of a two-semester-lecture on
empirical research methods. The examples were presented in an
incomplete form and had to be completed by the students. The
instructional approach was implemented in the context of a virtual
tutorial which accompanied the regular lectures. It was evaluated
in the context of a field study in which the feedback-condition was
varied experimentally. 25 students were given special questions to
guide feedback-processing (experimental group 1), 25 students were
given no guidance (experimental group 2). 30 students who attended
the lectures but did not participate in the virtual tutorial were
used as control group. The feedback-condition did not influence the
acquisition of action competence. Even though the learners did not
use the examples in an optimal manner, the experimental group was
more successful than the control group both in an exercise test and
in the regular written exam. In order to further increase the
effectiveness of the instructional approach, the students´
competence of self-regulated learning should be fostered.