ADAPTATION AND VALIDATION OF THE LEARNING STYLES QUESTIONNAIRE – VARK TO MIDWIFERY EDUCATION – ME-VARK
ADAPTATION AND VALIDATION OF THE LEARNING STYLES QUESTIONNAIRE – VARK TO MIDWIFERY EDUCATION – ME-VARK

Summary/Abstract: The research objective is to adapt and validate the VARK questionnaire on learning styles (Fleming, 2001, 2008) to the discipline of midwifery education in nursing – ME-VARK. The four major learning styles are: Visual, Auditory Read/write and Kinesthetic. From a sociological point of view, the working relationship between preceptor (midwife) and preceptee (student) contributes to the student's professional learning (self-efficacy in midwifery) and to the social formation of the students' identity as a midwifery practitioner. Therefore, matched learning styles between them are important for successful training, particularly in clinical practice. In order to construct the ME-VARK, following an in-depth literature review, and a documental analysis, a focus group and a Delphi procedure with in-depth literature review interviews were used to expose the subjective meanings of preceptorship relations as a social construct. Three expert-midwives that also were experienced preceptors participated in the focus group, and ten expert judges participated in six Delphi rounds (a total of 15 judgements). They were requested to propose items/responses relevant to midwifery education and then to validate the new ME-VARK. The results indicate that the chosen items are suitable to measure knowledge, competencies and learning styles in midwifery education. The adapted ME-VARK is relevant to midwifery education and encompasses the main labor stages, the central types of learning via preceptorship, and the essential topics in midwifery profession (exclusiveness). All items are relevant only to midwifery education (inclusiveness). The adapted ME-VARK was found to have all psychometric attributes: Content and construct validity, as well as face validity.

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