Strides in Development of Medical Education

A Study of Learning Approaches and their Relationship with Demographic Characteristics of Postgraduate Students of Kerman University of Medical Sciences Iran in 2014

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Atena Rahmati 1
Sakineh Sabzevari 2
Mahmoud Reza Dehghani 3

1 M.Sc. in Medical Education, Medical Education Development Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

2 Ph.D. in Nursing Education, M.Sc. in Medical Education, Assistant Professor, Department of Medical Education AND Medical Education Development Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

3 M.Sc. in Medical Education, Instructor, Department of Medical Education, Health Services Management Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

Abstract
Background & Objective: An important individual difference among students is their learning approaches Learning approaches are styles through which the learner selects information and integrates them Identifying students learning approaches and educational planning result in the attainment of educational achievements by students The aim of this study was to evaluate learning approaches and determine their relationship with demographic characteristics of postgraduate students of Kerman University of Medical Sciences Iran Methods: This was a descriptive analytical correlational study on 400 postgraduate students selected through random sampling The data collection tool consisted of a questionnaire with two sections of demographic characteristics and learning approaches Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency mean and standard deviation) and ANOVA and chisquare tests in SPSS software Results: The frequencies of deep surface and surfacedeep approaches among the students were 705% 235% and 60% Moreover among demographic characteristic the students occupation had a significant relationship with their approaches to learning (P = 0032) There was no relationship between learning approaches and other demographic characteristics of students Conclusion: This study showed that the majority of postgraduate students in Kerman University of Medical Sciences preferred the deep learning approach This learning approach had a significant relationship with their occupation It frequency was higher in unemployed people These findings are useful for the university and professors

Keywords

Learning approaches
demographic characteristics
Graduate students
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Strides in Development of Medical Education
Volume 12, Issue 5
2016
Pages 718-724

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