Author and graduation date: Jarrod M. SPANJER, March, 2002

Committee members: Denise Wiksten (Chair), Kathryn LaMaster, Gene G. Lamke

Thesis title: Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Sports Injury CD-ROM in Athletic Training Education

This paper examines the effectiveness of using a CD-ROM, "Sports Injuries 3-D," by Cramer, Inc., in an introductory athletic training laboratory as a recommended resource. Two lab classes were randomly assigned to either a traditional lecture (n = 11) or traditional lecture/CD-ROM (n = 15) group.

To evaluate the effectiveness of the CD-ROM, several outcome measures were collected. Scores of two written examinations and one practical examination were compared between groups. Subjects also completed weekly journals and participated in a focus group interview at the completion of the semester to elaborate on how often they accessed each resource and their feelings toward their various resources. Subjects in the traditional lecture/CD-ROM group also completed an attitude survey to evaluate pre- and poststudy attitudes towards computer-assisted learning.

No significant difference (p = 0.05) was found between groups on either the written or practical examination scores. The journals and interviews both indicated that subjects used their lecture notes (8/11-73% in the control group; 14/15-93% in the CD-ROM group) most frequently, while several students used a combination of lecture notes and lab manual when studying for their examinations. Although not listed as their primary resource, a majority of subjects in the experimental group reported accessing the CD-ROM for anatomical landmarks on a weekly basis.

Although no significance was found between groups, it is the author's belief that computer-assisted learning has a valuable place in athletic training education. The for this study was not specifically designed for the laboratory class but rather was a broader introduction to athletic training. It is the author's feeling that a CD-ROM specifically designed to the course, similar to the laboratory manual, would be an effective resource for students. Further research is recommended that would examine a course-specific CD-ROM.

Click here to return to the Completed Master Degree Theses in Biomechanics Table of Contents