The effects of the 'learning by proposing to do' approach on Hong Kong nursing students' research orientation, attitude toward research, knowledge, and research skill

The knowledge, attitudes, research orientation and skills of a group of Hong Kong Registered Nurses studying a BSc(Hons) Nursing course were evaluated using a quantitative instrument developed specifically for this purpose. The objectives of the study were to develop a nd examine the reliability and validity of the instrument and to evaluate the effects of a Research Methodology subject which focused on learning by 'proposing to do'. The instrument was administered to 72 participants at the beginning of the research subject, and 14 weeks later at the end of the subject. There was a statistically significant increase in the means for the knowledge, research orientation and skills sections of the instrument between pre- and post-testing. The instrument proved reliable as a measure of the research constructs and offers opportunities for future comparative research studies. (C) 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.