A comparison between students' attitudes and their performance regarding the factors influencing learning and exam results

• Main Authors: A Ebrahimi, R Ghodsi, K Jamali, MH Meshkibaf, S Beigizade
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences and Health Services 2009-03-01
• Series: Journal of Medical Education
• Subjects: students' attitudes, student performance, learning
• Online Access: http://journals.sbmu.ac.ir/jme/article/view/848

<p><strong>Background</strong>: Various educational approaches to learning have been proposed. It is, of course, of vital importance to study those that have resulted in effective educational achievements.</p><p><strong>Purpose</strong>: To assess the student's attitudes and performance in order to evaluate educational approaches and identify the variables leading to students gaining good marks.</p><p><strong>Methods</strong>: The subjects of the study were medical students at pathophysiology  phase. A multiple-choice questionnaire was prepared, the reliability and validity of which were confirmed. A paired-sample T­ test was used to compare and analyze  the student's  Basic Sciences Comprehensive  Exam scores in each discipline and their average score during the basic sciences course.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> With respect to attitudes, the students highly valued the importance of teacher's methodology and mutual  respect, as an influential  factor in Learning. Furthermore, the majority  of the students relied heavily  on their textbooks  as the main source of information  and preferred to study at home, rather than any other places. Most of the students prefer to study in the morning. They believed that mid-term exams, quizzes, and active class participation do not have much effect on learning. However, it was of high importance to them to attend practical claSSfS (labs). With respect to performance, most of the students used lecture notes as the main references, and considered their home as a good place to study and  preferred to study in the morning,  but have  participated  in theoretical  and  practical classes regularly.</p><p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> Most successful students attributed their success to active class participation,  taking</p><p>mid-term exams, quizzes, and using library. Having analyzed the data, we recommend the authorities to provide more methodology  workshops for teachers,  sufficient  number of textbooks,  expanding  or increasing the number of the reading rooms with essential equipment.</p><p><strong>Keywords</strong>:  students' attitudes, student performance, learning</p>