The effect of concept map teaching based on network process analysis (ANP) and lecture on students' learning skills

In proportion to the expansion of various skills in life, learning and education of any society needs quantitative and qualitative improvement. The rapid development of technology has caused a change in the way of learning, and in order to increase learning and acquire knowledge, different methods of teaching and training are used to improve people's knowledge, among these methods is the use of standard concept maps. In the current research, the use of the concept map teaching method compiled with the network process analysis method and the lecture method on the students' learning skills in the topic of chemical atom structure was investigated.

The present study was a mixed-methods (exploratory-explanatory) research and was conducted in two steps. The first step was done with a qualitative research method of the Delphi type. The statistical population consisted of experts and professors in chemistry education in 2020-2021, and 30 individuals were selected using purposive sampling. The tools used in this step were semi-structured interviews and a researcher-made pairwise comparison questionnaire.The data were analyzed using the network process analysis method (a multicriteria decision-making method) and the Super Decisions software.In the second step, a quasi-experimental quantitative research method was used with a pre-test, post-test and follow-up plan with two groups (one experimental group and one control group).The statistical population consisted of all eighth-grade high school students in the academic year 2021-2022. A sample of 30 students was selected using convenience sampling and divided into two groups of 15. The experimental group received education using concept maps developed based on ANP, and the control group was taught using the lecture method. The data collection tool was a learning skills questionnaire, and to assess the validity of the tool, the opinions of experts and professors were used. The reliability of the research tool was calculated to be 0.96 using the test-retest method, and the data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis and SPSS (24.00) software.

The findings of the first step showed that mathematics layers with a weighted average of 0.652, physics 0.235, and chemistry 0.113 had the greatest impact, respectively, and the highest and lowest weighted averages in the physics layer were the concept of matter and the concept of electron movement in Certain circuits (Bohr) was 0.011. In the mathematical layer, the concept of main numbers and its four main operations was 0.291, and the concept of sine waves and wave concept was 0.014. In the chemistry layer, the concept of subatomic particles was 0.407 and the concept of using electron arrangement was 0.010. And the results of the statistical analysis in the second step, for hypotheses at a significant level (0.05), indicated a significant and more stable effect of training with the concept map method on learning skills.

Considering the greater impact of education with the standard concept map method and the importance of prerequisites, it is possible to rank educational concepts using the network process analysis method and use it in teaching and learning. Also, the standard conceptual map can be considered as a suitable tool and approach to achieve learning.