Increasing Basic Doctrinal Competency for LDS Seminary Students Through the Use of Concept Maps

Publication Date

8-1-2013

Type of Culminating Activity

Dissertation

Degree Title

Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction

Department

Curriculum, Instruction, and Foundational Studies

Supervisory Committee Chair

Jonathan Brendefur

Abstract

The current emphasis in the LDS seminary program includes a focus on improving the doctrinal competency among high school seminary students. This study looked at the efficacy of using concept maps to improve doctrinal understanding, belief, and application among seminary students. Using a quasi-experimental design, 44 students participated in the study. Participants in the concept map group studied the nine basic doctrines of the seminary program using an instructional method based on concept maps. The results indicate that seminary students who study the basic doctrines using concept maps improve their doctrinal understanding, but do not see corresponding improvements in their belief or application of the doctrines. Additionally, seminary students with more years of experience in seminary demonstrate higher doctrinal understanding. This study found that the frequency of personal daily scripture reading improved seminary students’ ability to apply the basic doctrines taught in seminary. According to participants who used concept maps to study the basic doctrines, this instructional method was received favorably.

This document is currently not available here.

Files over 30MB may be slow to open. For best results, right-click and select "save as..."

Share

COinS