Comparing Student Performance and Perceived Learning Between In-Person and Online Sections of an Undergraduate Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory Course

Author

Madeline M. Knox, University of South DakotaFollow

Date of Award

Spring 2026

Document Type

Honors Thesis

Department/Major

Biology

First Advisor

Scott Druecker

Second Advisor

Mark Dixon

Third Advisor

David Alexander

Keywords

In-person and online laboratories, instructional modalities, anatomy and physiology laboratories, grades, CAP Perceived Learning Scale

Subject Categories

Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research | Higher Education | Online and Distance Education

Abstract

Online laboratory courses are increasingly common in undergraduate science education, but their effectiveness relative to in-person laboratories remains unclear. This study compared students’ academic performance and perceived learning outcomes between online and in-person anatomy and physiology laboratory sections at the University of South Dakota. Final course grade distribution between the two modalities across three semesters (n = 158 in-person and n = 312 online) was analyzed, and student perceptions of cognitive, affective, and psychomotor learning were assessed using the CAP Perceived Learning Scale instrument in post-course surveys (n = 81 in-person and n = 37 online). Grade distributions across instructors differed significantly between modalities, with online students attaining a higher median grade and a higher proportion of A letter grades. However, when analyses were restricted to sections taught by one instructor, grade differences between modalities were no longer statistically significant, which suggests that instructor variability may have contributed to the observed modality effects. No differences were observed in perceived learning outcome scores between modalities across domains, regardless of whether all course sections were compared or just those taught by the same instructor, suggesting there was comparable perceived learning across modalities.

Recommended Citation

Knox, Madeline M., "Comparing Student Performance and Perceived Learning Between In-Person and Online Sections of an Undergraduate Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory Course" (2026). Honors Thesis. 406.
https://red.library.usd.edu/honors-thesis/406