An investigation into the factors that encourage learner participation in a large group medical classroom

Figures & data

Figure 1 Distribution of responses to enquiry “I participated in lectures” for male and female students.

Figure 2 Distribution of responses to enquiry “I felt confident enough to participate in lectures” for male and female students.

Table 1 Categorization of participant responses to: “The main thing that deters me from participating in a lecture is …”

Category	Typical participant response
Aversion to public speaking	“I don’t like public speaking”
	“Speaking in front of a big audience”
Lecture factors	“Lecture topic”
	“Lectures are too long”
Lecture venue	“Not wanting to have to yell cross the room”
Lecturer and/or presentation style	“The constantly changing professor/lecturer made it difficult to determine what type of participation they wanted”
Perception of lack of information to contribute	“I have less experience/qualifications than the other students”
	“I have little experience in a clinic therefore I have little to add to the conversation”
Not knowing answer to lecturer questions	“Afraid I will not be correct and not saying what they are looking for”
Student motivation factors	“How much energy I had that day”
	“Seemed lecture did not pertain to me”
Student personality factors	“I’m not outspoken”
	“I’m shy”
Peer factors	“Not wanting to take away someone else’s opportunity to participate”
	“The same people continually jump right into conversation without allowing others to”
Other or meaning unclear
Blank or comment without further information

Table 2 Categorization of participant responses to: “The main thing that makes it easier for me to participate in a lecture is …”

Category	Typical participant response
Audience response systems/“clickers”	“Using clickers”
	“When we use the clickers in class”
Being calledon to participate	“When a direct question is asked”
	“Asked to participate”
Feeling confident, knowledgeable about topic	“Personal experience pertaining to the topic”
	“Interest and knowledge about what is being talked about”
Lecture environment	“Being comfortable around my colleagues”
	“Comfortable setting”
Lecture factors	“Talking about subjects that were not personal”
	“Having lecture notes to pre-read before class”
Lecturer and/or presentation style	“Friendliness of professors”
	“The openness of the professors”
Specific use of open-ended questions	“Open-ended questions”
	“Open questions”
Other students participating	“When a lot of other people are participating”
	“Other people (peers) also wanting to contribute to the lecture”
Smaller sizes of class, small group activities	“Smaller class sizes or groups”
	“Smaller group activities”
Student personality factors	“Not sure there is anything. I’m just quiet in nature”
	“I’m opinionated”
Blank or comment without further information

Table 3 Distribution of student responses to the main deterrent to participating in lecture, grouped by sex

Response	Percent
	Males	Females	Total
Aversion to public speaking	14.7	38.2	34.5
Lecture factors	11.8	13.4	13.2
Peer factors	5.9	11.3	10.5
Blank or comment without further information	17.6	8.6	10
Student personality factors	2.9	8.6	7.7
Not knowing answer to lecturer questions	14.7	5.9	7.3
Student motivation factors	11.8	3.8	5.0
Lecturer and/or presentation style	5.9	4.3	4.5
Perception of lack of information to contribute	8.8	3.8	4.5
Lecture venue	0	1.6	1.4
Other or meaning unclear	5.9	0.5	1.4
	100	100	100

Table 4 Distribution of student responses to the main incentive to participating in lecture, grouped by sex

Response	Percent
	Males	Females	Total
Smaller sizes of class, small group activities	2.9	21.6	18.9
Other students participating	20.6	17.5	18
Blank or comment without further information	23.5	10.8	12.7
Audience response systems/“clickers”	2.9	10.3	9.2
Feeling confident, knowledgeable about topic	8.8	9.3	9.2
Lecture environment	5.9	9.8	9.2
Lecture factors	11.8	8.8	9.2
Being called on to participate	8.8	8.2	8.3
Open-ended questions	11.8	1.5	3.1
Student personality factors	2.9	1.5	1.8
Lecturer and/or presentation style	0	0.5	0.4
	100	100	100