PBL shifts learners' opinions about topics modestly, and learners with strong pre-existing opinions are less likely to change¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study (2 entries) · review r2–r3 · q2
Currency · newest study 2026 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? Seven studies assessed opinion change (Level 2A); some found shifts in perspective while others found no significant change. → Clemens Megan 2026 q2 i? Learners with strong pre-existing opinions appeared less likely to alter their views after PBL. → Clemens Megan 2026 (2)

Evidence¶

Clemens Megan 2026¶

Clemens Megan, Boparai Josheil Kaur, Dawe Russell, Avery Susan. (2026). Problem-based and related learning approaches in family medicine residency: a scoping review of four countries. Canadian Medical Education Journal. https://doi.org/10.36834/cmej.81284

q2 · i? · review · r2

Synthesis of seven studies assessing opinion change. The review reports four found perspective shifts, e.g. on pharmaceutical marketing ethics (p = 0.033), while others found no significant changes, including one study with no significant change in perception after the intervention. Only p-values are printed.

"Seven studies assessed changes in learners' opinions about the topic, corresponding to Level 2A of the adapted Kirkpatrick's Model. Four of these studies found shifts in perspective, such as the ethical appropriateness of pharmaceutical marketing (p = 0.033),"

Clemens Megan 2026 (2)¶

Clemens Megan, Boparai Josheil Kaur, Dawe Russell, Avery Susan. (2026). Problem-based and related learning approaches in family medicine residency: a scoping review of four countries. Canadian Medical Education Journal. https://doi.org/10.36834/cmej.81284

q2 · i? · review · r3

The review's synthesis of two included studies (Agrawal et al.; Colenda et al.) found that learners holding extreme pre-existing opinions, such as a negative perception of managed care, showed no significant changes. The review attributes this pattern to pre-existing opinion strength.

"Notably, learners with strong pre-existing opinions appeared less likely to alter their views,23,24 suggesting that PBL may not equally benefit all participants."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• PBL in family medicine residency programs is associated with high learner satisfaction, though not always rated above lectures — related
• Objective knowledge assessments show no significant improvement after PBL in family medicine residency, with gains comparable to lectures — related
• Elementary students expressed significantly more opinion statements supporting the other-side when reading the other-side historical account than when reading their own-side account — related
• After the intervention, some students shifted from one-sided to two-sided reasoning: comments against their own side doubled and own-side support halved when reading the other-side text — related
• Facebook-based digital storytelling helped cross-national students overcome stereotypes and share opinions — related