Case Processing in Supporting the Development of Expertise in Pharmacy: What Can Eye Movements Reveal?

• In Event: Reasoning

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to utilize process-level analyses to investigate pharmacy students’ reasoning during solving a case task. The processes were investigated using the eye-tracking method together with written tasks and 2nd and 3rd –year students’ processes were compared. The results showed that students differed in their performance and solely half of the 2nd year students were able to solve the case. However, majority of the 3rd year students gave a correct solution. Better-succeeding 3rd-year students read the beginning of the case text longer compared to younger students suggesting that initial activation of relevant mental scripts may lead into better outcomes. Based on the results of the study, pedagogical suggestions for advancing higher education are discussed.

Authors

• Ilona Södervik, University of Helsinki

• Nina Katajavuori

• Leena Hanski, University of Helsinki