Comparing the Effectiveness of Flipped and Traditional Teaching Methods in Problem-solving Learning and Self-determination Among University Students

Background: The flipped classroom model provides an ideal ground to convert a traditional classroom into an interactive environment based on problem-solving learning with a focus on university students’ self-determination. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of flipped and traditional teaching methods in problem-solving learning and self-determination among university students. Methods: The research method was experimental with a pretest-posttest design and a control group. The statistical population included all female students of Farhangian University in Ahvaz city in the academic year 2019. Using a purposive sampling method, 36 students were selected and randomly divided into experimental and control groups (n = 18 per group). The research instrument included the Problem-Solving Inventory (PSI) and the Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction scale. The experimental group received the flipped teaching program during eight 120-min sessions once a week; however, the control group received the traditional teaching method. multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA), univariate analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), and Bonferroni post hoc tests were used to analyze the data. Results: The posttest scores (mean ± SD) of problem-solving learning and self-determination were 83.77 ± 14.17 and 119.33 ± 13.79, respectively, in the experimental group, which were significantly different from the scores of the control group. The flipped classroom promoted problem-solving learning and components of self-determination among university students in the experimental group when compared to the control group (P = 0.01). The flipped teaching method was more effective than the traditional method in increasing problem-solving learning and self-determination among university students. Conclusions: According to the findings, the flipped teaching method had greater impacts on students’ problem-solving and self-determination than had the traditional method.