An innovative strategy to measure arab-muslim immigrant women's knowledge with consideration of cultural learning style

Background and Issues: Culturally, Arab-Muslims are collectivistic and learn best by group process. This cultural practice does not lend itself to typical American methods of measuring knowledge of individuals in a group learning setting. Data collected to measure knowledge may therefore not be valid when using traditional methods of measurement with collectivistic groups. Description: This paper addresses the adaptation of an existing reliable tool to evaluate knowledge of Arab-Muslim immigrant women who participated in a breast health education program. Process evaluation, including tool pilot testing and focus groups, was used to develop a valid tool. The evaluation revealed that participants' collectivistic learning style of group learning and sharing influenced responses on traditional tools. The revised tool relied on digital audience response system (“clickers”) technology that enabled assessment of knowledge with consideration of Arab-Muslim women's collectivistic learning style. Lessons Learned: When working with collectivistic groups, the authors suggest consideration of cultural learning styles in order to develop valid and reliable methods of knowledge assessment. Digital audience response system technology can offer valid and reliable methods of data collection while also supporting cultural learning styles. Recommendations: To adequately determine program outcomes with collectivistic groups, evaluation measures should consider the cultural learning style of the group. Digital audience response system technology can support interaction and group learning while also assessing participants' knowledge and collecting data to support evidence-based health education programs.