| This study examines student perceptions of academic benefits, or lack thereof, from a college-level physiology laboratory course designed for non-biology majors. A Participant Perception Inventory (PPI) was validated and then given to students in a human physiology class to assess their knowledge, experience, and confidence in the learning domains of practical lab skills, scientific reasoning, physiology subject matter, and science teamwork. Responses from students who completed a physiology laboratory course in addition to the lecture class were compared to responses from students who completed the physiology class without a lab. The laboratory students had significantly higher perceptions of their knowledge, experience, and confidence in all four learning domains. Students with these high perceptions may be more likely to feel satisfied at the end of the semester and to value science as a source of knowledge relevant to their career in the health professions. This study is part of a growing body of knowledge that provides evidence for the effectiveness of physiology labs at the college level, which would argue for the support of investing time and resources into physiology labs and lab facilities. |
