An Evidence-based Approach to Measuring Affective Domain Development.

BACKGROUND: Educational taxonomies are utilised within nursing programmes to design curriculum, develop learning objectives, and measure attainments including the assessment of values, behaviours, and attitudes. Current measurement of the affective domain is limited, relying on quantitative tools, often immediately before and after learning activities.
PURPOSE: This paper examines the reliability of a qualitative framework to assess the long-term impact of learning activities known to stimulate affective domain development.
METHOD: Epstein's (1977) qualitative framework was applied to the self-reported responses of twelve international nurses (20-24 months post nurse registration) who had engaged in learning activities during their pre-registration programme that were considered to be enrichment (international placement, interprofessional learning, simulation and blended learning).
RESULTS: Epstein's framework was used to measure the degree of affective domain development from the self-reported responses of the students. The degree of modification in affective domain development was assessed as dentification level (assuming a different attitude or behaviour) for four nurses and internalisation stage for eight nurses (embracing new values and attitudes).
CONCLUSION: Epstein's framework is a reliable tool that can capture the short and long-term modification in affective domain development of nurses after they have experienced transformational learning activities. Key elements that move a nurse from identification to internalisation level are the motivating reason for undertaking the activity and reflection on the learning.