Foong, Chan Choong and Ghouse, Nur Liyana Bashir and Lye, An Jie and Pallath, Vinod and Hong, Wei-Han and Vadivelu, Jamuna (2022) Differences between high- and low-achieving pre-clinical medical students: A qualitative instrumental case study from a theory of action perspective. Annals of Medicine, 54 (1). pp. 195-210. ISSN 0785-3890, DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/07853890.2021.1967440.
Full text not available from this repository.Abstract
Poor academic performance and failure can cause undesired effects for students, schools, and society. Understanding why some students fail while their peers succeed is important to enhance student performance. Therefore, this study explores the differences in the learning process between high- and low-achieving pre-clinical medical students from a theory of action perspective. Methods This study employed a qualitative instrumental case study design intended to compare two groups of students-high-achieving students (n = 14) and low-achieving students (n = 5), enrolled in pre-clinical medical studies at the Universiti Malaya, Malaysia. Data were collected through reflective journals and semi-structured interviews. Regarding journaling, participants were required to recall their learning experiences of the previous academic year. Two analysts coded the data and then compared the codes of high- and low-achieving students. The third analyst reviewed the codes. Themes were identified iteratively, working towards comparing the learning processes of high- and low-achieving students. Results Data analysis revealed four themes-motivation and expectation, study methods, self-management, and flexibility of mindset. First, high-achieving students were more motivated and had higher academic expectations than low-achieving students. Second, high-achieving students adopted study planning and deep learning approaches, whereas low-achieving students adopted superficial learning approaches. Third, in contrast to low-achieving students, high-achieving students exhibited better time management and studied consistently. Finally, high-achieving students proactively sought external support and made changes to overcome challenges. In contrast, low-achieving students were less resilient and tended to avoid challenges. Conclusion Based on the theory of action, high-achieving students utilize positive governing variables, whereas low-achieving students are driven by negative governing variables. Hence, governing variable-based remediation is needed to help low-achieving students interrogate the motives behind their actions and realign positive governing variables, actions, and intended outcomes. Key Messages This study found four themes describing the differences between high- and low-achieving pre-clinical medical students: motivation and expectation, study methods, self-management, and flexibility of mindset. Based on the theory of action approach, high-achieving pre-clinical medical students are fundamentally different from their low-achieving peers in terms of their governing variables, with the positive governing variables likely to have guided them to act in a manner beneficial to and facilitating desirable academic performance. Governing variable-based remediation may help students interrogate the motives of their actions.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Funders: | Geran Penyelidikan Tabung UMSC CA.R.E[PV045-2019], Geran Penyelidikan Tabung UMSC CA.R.E[PV014-2020], Bantuan Kecil Penyelidikan, Universiti Malaya[BK023-2016] |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Qualitative instrumental case study;Theory of action;Academic achievement;High-achieving;Low-achieving |
| Subjects: | R Medicine R Medicine > RC Internal medicine |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Medicine |
| Depositing User: | Ms. Juhaida Abd Rahim |
| Date Deposited: | 18 Aug 2022 01:55 |
| Last Modified: | 18 Aug 2022 01:55 |
| URI: | http://eprints.um.edu.my/id/eprint/32717 |
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