Using the design-thinking method to develop and validate a peer evaluation scale for team-based learning (PES-TBL) for nursing students.

Background: Peer evaluation in team-based learning provides meaningful information about the learning process and dynamics. Despite the importance of peer evaluation in learner-centred learning, there is a lack of valid and reliable scales that reflect students' experiences in the classroom.

Objectives: To develop and validate a peer evaluation scale for team-based learning.

Design: A cross-sectional methodological study.

Setting: Four universities located in Gwangju, Republic of Korea.

Participants: Eight nursing students exposed to team-based learning voluntarily participated in a design-thinking project, and eight nursing professors were selected for content validity. For the validation of the Scale, 722 nursing students were randomly selected.

Methods: The design-thinking method was implemented to develop the Scale, and a questionnaire was used to assess the Scale's construct validity and reliability. The construct validity was examined in a split-half analysis with exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Cronbach's alpha, McDonald's omega, and composite reliability were investigated for the peer evaluation scale for team-based learning.

Results: A 12-item tool, with each item using a 5-point scale for peer evaluation, was developed through the empathise, define, ideate, prototype, and test stages of the design-thinking method. Exploratory factor analysis identified three factors from the 12 items: responsibility, initiative, and collaboration. Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated that the tool had acceptable convergent and discriminant validity, thus confirming good construct validity. All values for reliability were >0.70.

Conclusions: This study was noteworthy in that it employed the design-thinking method to reflect learners' opinions in developing a peer evaluation instrument. Moreover, the study demonstrated adequate evidence of reliability and validity. Consequently, the developed Scale can be effectively applied to team-based learning assessments for nursing students.