%0 Journal Article
%T Learning retinoscopy: A journey through problem space.
%A Hollis J
%A Allen PM
%A Heywood J
%J Ophthalmic Physiol Opt
%V 42
%N 5
%D 09 2022
%M 35598151
%F 3.992
%R 10.1111/opo.13007
%X Retinoscopy is a skill that requires the integration of procedural skill and declarative knowledge. Whilst the actual technique is simple, retinoscopy is a complex skill to acquire and is one that students often find challenging. This study compared the strategies that novices, third-year students and experts use when performing retinoscopy, with the aim of identifying the key stages of learning that may enlighten teaching practice.<BR>This study employed a protocol-based approach in which the verbal protocols and cognitive strategies of novices, students and experts were recorded and then subjected to 'problem space' analysis.<BR>Clear differences existed when the retinoscopy of novices, students and experts was directly compared using a standardised simulated task. Experts were more accurate in performance and used defined strategies to reach the goal. The presence of these strategies significantly predicted the accuracy of the retinoscopy result.<BR>This study highlights the importance of meta-cognitive strategies and the need for an adequate theoretical foundation in skill acquisition. The underpinning knowledge provides a pedagogic tool that specifies activities which are beneficial to learning a clinical skill.