Identification of Variables as the Effects of Integrated Education Using the Delphi Method

In this study, the Delphi Method was conducted to extract variables as effects of integrated education. Forty-six experts engaged in both the integrated education and research fields participated in this study. The Delphi survey was conducted for three rounds. In the first round, an open questionnaire was given asking variables possibly considered as effects of integrated education. In the second round, variables induced from analysis of the first survey results were given and the degree of agreement for each variable was determined according to the Likert scale. In the third round of the survey, mean, standard deviation, and the first and third quartile calculated using the results of the second survey were given to experts to determine their degree of assent. In addition, categories for variables were suggested. The degree of agreement for appropriateness of categorization and relative importance were determined As a result, a total of 18 variables were chosen except for career awareness. They were categorized according to their definition and properties into five categories: ‘creativity’ (flexible thinking, associative thinking, intuitive thinking, creative thinking), ‘problem solving’ (meta-cognition, problem recognition and solving, critical thinking, decision making ability, ability of knowledge application, knowledge and information processing skills), ‘integrative perception and sensitivity’ (concern and interest in various disciplines, understanding and acceptance of difference, integrative thinking), ‘interpersonal relations’ (communication skills, cooperation), and ‘disciplinary literacy’ (humanistic imagination, basic knowledge and literacy of each discipline, academic motivation). The degree of agreement was high in variables included in ‘creativity’ and ‘problem solving’categories and the frequency of choosing the importance was high in variables included in ‘integrative perception and sensitivity’. The educational implication related to implementation and practice of integrated education were discussed on the basis of results.