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The Relationship between Learning and Study Strategies Inventory (LASSI) and Performance on Anatomical Sciences in Medical Schools
Author(s) -
Khalil Mohammed K.,
Hawkins H. Gregory,
Williams Shanna E.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.31.1_supplement.392.6
Subject(s) - association (psychology) , anxiety , test (biology) , psychology , psychological intervention , test anxiety , medical education , clinical psychology , medicine , biology , psychiatry , paleontology , psychotherapist
Background This study examines the strength of association between 10‐subscale scores LASSI and student performance on the anatomical sciences (gross anatomy, histology, and embryology) and USMLE Step 1 examinations. LASSI assesses learning and study strategies based on 10 subscale measures. These subscales included three components of strategic learning: skill (Information Processing, Selecting Main Ideas, and Test Strategies), will (Anxiety, Attitude, and Motivation) and self‐regulation (Concentration, Time Management, Self‐testing, and Study Aid). Methods The LASSI instrument was administered to 174 students (Class of 2016, 2017, and 2018) during orientation at the beginning of their M2 year. Pearson product‐moment correlation analyses were performed to measure the strength of association between LASSI subscale scores and performance on the anatomical sciences and USMLE Step 1. Results Significant associations were observed between LASSI subscales Anxiety, Information Processing, Motivation, Selecting Main Idea, and Test Strategies and student performance on overall anatomical sciences and USMLE Step 1. The LASSI subscales Concentration and Time Management were significantly associated with performance on all anatomical sciences. Discussion Since behavioral attributes measured by LASSI subscale scores are correlated with performance on anatomical sciences and USMLE Step 1 examinations, early identification of students who lack these skills should be supported by targeted interventions to maximize academic achievement. Conclusions Anxiety, Information processing, Motivation, Selecting Main Idea, and Test Strategies are the LASSI subscales that are significantly correlated with performance on the anatomical sciences and USMLE Step 1 examination. Concentration and Time Management are important skills for success in anatomical sciences. Support or Funding Information No funding 1 Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlations (r) between anatomical disciplines and USMLE Step1 examinations Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2‐tailed)Discipline No. of Questions Mean ± SD Pearson correlationAnatomy 364 81.81±06.63 0.474 **Histology 112 84.95±08.55 0.470 **Embryology 052 80.52±11.57 0.263 **Anatomical Sciences 528 82.35±06.22 0.533 **2 Strength of association between the 10 LASSI subscales and performance on Anatomy, Histology, Embryology, overall Anatomical Sciences, and USMLE Step 1. Note: ANX, Anxiety; ATT, Attitude; CON, Concentration; INP, Information Processing; MOT, Motivation; SFT, Self‐Testing; SMI, Selecting Main Ideas; STA, Study Aids; TMT, Time Management; TST, Test Strategies.Scale Anatomy (N=174) Histology (N=174) Embryology (N=174) Anatomical Sciences (N=174) USMLE Step 1 (N=172)r value p value r value p value r value p value r value p value r value p valueANX 0.211 ** 0.005 0.198 ** 0.009 0.045 0.560 0.221 ** 0.003 0.311 ** 0.000 ATT 0.109 0.019 0.804 0.804 0.163 0.032 0.115 0.129 0.072 0.351 CON 0.235 ** 0.002 0.066 0.462 0.196 ** 0.010 0.249 ** 0.001 0.141 0.065 INP 0.133 0.079 0.198 ** 0.009 0.031 0.685 0.161 * 0.033 0.214 ** 0.005 MOT 0.280 ** 0.000 0.285 ** 0.000 0.388 ** 0.000 0.360 ** 0.000 0.178 * 0.020 SFT 0.182 * 0.016 0.089 0.243 0.181 * 0.017 0.192 * 0.011 0.120 0.118 SMI 0.194 * 0.010 0.075 0.328 0.128 0.092 0.188 * 0.013 0.234 ** 0.002 STA −0.004 0.958 −0.093 0.222 0.006 0.941 0.029 0.702 −0.084 0.276 TMT 0.259 ** 0.001 0.213 ** 0.005 0.270 ** 0.000 0.302 ** 0.000 0.123 0.109 TST 0.392 ** 0.000 0.294 ** 0.000 0.273 ** 0.000 0.423 ** 0.000 0.377 ** 0.000* p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01 (2‐tailed).