The Effect of Nursing Students' Metaverse Perception on Flexible Thinking in Learning: A Path Analysis
TL;DR
It was determined that the development of metaverse perception is important for nursing students to think flexibly in learning and it is recommended that metaverse technology be used in the nursing curriculum to meet the changing demands of the health system and to improve students' metaverse perception.
Abstract
It is expected that nursing students will demonstrate flexibility in their thinking as they learn, enabling them to solve problems, produce solutions, and establish cooperation. The development of flexible thinking can be facilitated by the use of the metaverse, which is a technological innovation and a three‐dimensional virtual world. This study aims to examine how nursing students' metaverse perception affects flexible thinking in learning and to investigate the relationship between them. This research has a descriptive and exploratory design. The study was conducted between October and November 2024 with the participation of 494 nursing students. Three instruments were employed for the collection of data in a face‐to‐face setting within the classroom environment. The instruments utilized in the study were the Descriptive Characteristics Form, the Metaverse Perception Scale for Nursing Students, and the Flexible Thinking in Learning Scale. The statistical analysis was conducted with a significance value of p < 0.05, employing the statistical software package SPSS 22.0. The mean age of the students was 20.39 ± 2.35 years. Of the total sample, 76.5% were female, and 29.1% were first‐year students. The male participants, those who engaged in virtual gaming, and those who exhibited a preference for active learning exhibited significantly higher levels of metaverse perception. Those who considered themselves to be academically successful and those who preferred face‐to‐face, active learning exhibited significantly higher levels of flexible thinking in learning. The results of the path analysis indicated a significant positive correlation between metaverse perception and flexible thinking in learning ( β = 0.653, R = 0.590, p < 0.001). It was determined that the development of metaverse perception is important for nursing students to think flexibly in learning. It is recommended that metaverse technology be used in the nursing curriculum to meet the changing demands of the health system and to improve students' metaverse perception.