Study habits and academic achievement among medical students: A comparison between male and female subjects

Abstract

Purpose: Study habits of medical students contribute to better understanding learner achievement and success. This study examines the relationship between study habits, including gender and nonacademic factors that affect learning, to investigate their relationship with performance outcomes.

Methods: This study was conducted in March 2015 at the College of Medicine and Applied Medical Science at Taif University. A survey was administered, measuring study habits such as study time, study partners, source of study, breaks, study interruptions, difficulty concentrating, study activity, and delayed study. Comparisons were examined by high and low grade point average (GPA) and by gender.

Results: A total of 257 students completed the questionnaire (59% high GPA and 41% low GPA; 50% males and 50% females). Results indicated significant differences for time of study, study materials, study interruptions, study enjoyment between students of high and low GPAs. Gender differences were found for study time, study methods, study breaks, student activity, and delayed study time.

Conclusions: This study found that study habits differ by gender and also have significant impact on performance outcomes of learners. Given that students’ academic success is an important outcome for medical schools, these findings call for implementing these results to enhance curricular changes and promote better learning outcomes.

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to our colleagues in the Faculty of Medicine (Taif University), for their significant contributions in collecting, analyzing, and processing of our experiment data, and the comprehensive statistical efforts conducted for this study.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Additional information

Funding

The Saudi Supplement on Medical Education is sponsored and supported by Al Imam Mohammed Ibn Saud Islamic University.

Notes on contributors

Saad S. Alzahrani

Saad S. Alzahrani, MD, is Associate Professor of Family Medicine, Faculty Medicine, Taif University. He conceptualized and designed the study, acquired and interpreted the data, drafted the initial manuscript, revised the manuscript, and approved the final manuscript.

Yoon Soo Park

Yoon Soo Park, PhD, is Assistant Professor in the Department of Medical Education at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago. He contributed to the conceptualization and revision of the manuscript.

Ara Tekian

Ara Tekian, PhD, MHPE, is Professor in the Department of Medical Education at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago. He contributed to the conceptualization and revision of the manuscript.