The Curriculum Evaluation of Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Management, Christian University of Thailand

Abstract

Purpose : The objective of this research was to evaluate the curriculum of Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Management (2559 B.E.), College of Nursing, at a Private University. The evaluation focused on context, input, process, and product, using the CIPP model of Stufflebeam et al (1971)

Design : Curriculum evaluation with mixed method research.

Methods : The samples participated the quantitative research were 13 administrators and instructors, 6 graduates, 16 doctoral students, and 4 educates’ employers, and the informants participated the qualitative research were 8 doctoral students. The research instruments were as follows: 1) Personal characteristics questionnaire, 2) Context, input factors, and process evaluation questionnaire, 3)Product evaluation or characteristic desire evaluation according to graduate questionnaire, 4)Characteristic desire evaluation according to organizational need questionnaire, and 5) Focus group interview guideline. The content validity index of research instrument no. 2-4 were .90, .90, and .90, respectively. The reliability of these three questionnaires were .98, .97, and .94, respectively. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and content analysis.

Main findings: The results of the study showed found that the context, input factors, process, and product of the curriculum, as perceived by administrators and instructors, graduates, students and educates’employers were at a high level. The curriculum objectives were consistent with desire and emphasis clearly on administration and research.The curriculum structure was appropriate and consistent with objectives. The input factors and process of curriculum were appropriate. As for productivity, the graduates had good characteristics and performance well in accordance with the desire of administrators, instructors, graduates, and graduates’ employers. The graduates were successful in their jobs and were the good model for the students.The curriculum should be improved in 1) curriculum structure adding on the practicum course which students are able to follow the high-level nurse managers; 2)adjusting some courses, and specify the scope of the thesis topic for students; 3) reducing course number to early start doing thesis; and 4) adjusting context such as privacy room for thesis consultation, constantly providing services by staff with equity, checking the availability of teaching equipment; and developing the academic activities amongst alumni, students, and lecturers.

Conclusion and recommendation: The results of this study are able to apply for improvement of this curriculum to serve the need of involving persons, promote the learning skills in 21^st Century in accordance with the quality assurance.