An Experiment to Evaluate Drama as a Method for Teaching Social Work Research

Abstract

The usefulness of drama for teaching social research methods is suggested by theories related to conditioning, modeling, and andragogy. This study describes and evaluates the use of a play entitled The Experiment as a teaching tool in social work research. A randomized factorial experimental design compares groups receiving materials in the form of a lecture or a play, each presented by two different professors. Students receiving the play acquired more knowledge than those in the lecture group when tested immediately after the presentations, but this difference was not indicated one week later. The lecture and play groups were initially equivalent in their attitudes toward the educational experience, but one week later students in the play group had significantly more positive attitudes.