The Use of Different Study Skills by Undergraduate and Postgraduate Students of Kerman Dental School

Background: Different study skills have been developed and introduced, although most learners are apparently unaware of them.Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the frequency of using different study skills among undergraduate and postgraduate students.Method: The study population consisted of ۲۰۱ undergraduate and ۴۵ postgraduate students of Kerman Dental School in ۲۰۱۶-۲۰۱۷, who were selected using the random stratified sampling method. A questionnaire composed of four questions used to collect data. The questionnaire was a modified version of the one used by Karpiacke et al. The frequency of using different study skills (i.e., re-studying, re-writing, using flashcards, studying in groups, memorizing, teaching content, creating headings, self-testing, highlighting, finding connections, and finding real examples) was asked in the first question. Students’ preparation for exams and students’ satisfaction with their study skills were asked in the next questions. Data was analyzed using the chi-square test in SPSS۲۳.Results: Of the ۲۴۶ participants, ۷۲ (۳۵.۸%) undergraduate students and ۲۰ (۴۴.۴%) postgraduate students were male. The frequency of using different study skills was the same between the male and female undergraduate students, except for re-writing (P=۰.۰۲۴), studying in groups (P=۰.۰۱۸), and creating headings (P=۰.۰۱۸) which were higher in the female undergraduate students. However, there was no significant difference between male and female postgraduate students in terms of the frequency of using different study skills.Conclusion: The most and least commonly used strategies by the undergraduate and postgraduate students were re-studying and using flashcards, respectively. Only ۳۰.۳% of the undergraduate and ۲۴.۴% of the postgraduate students used the self-testing strategy.

Keywords:

Study skills , Study strategies , Students , Dental school