A mixed methods exploration of the emergence of goal orientation in medical students’ individualized learning plans

Bibliographic Data

ID21448182
AuthorsAshlie S Tseng (0000-0002-4665-0995, Department of Pediatrics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA, corresponding author), Cherie Edwards (0000-0003-0497-0197, Office of Assessment, Evaluation, and Scholarship, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA), Meagan Rawls (0000-0001-8430-9045, Office of Assessment, Evaluation, and Scholarship, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA), Melissa McGinn (0000-0003-1832-3556, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA), Nicole Wieghard (0000-0003-1029-1756, Department of Surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA), Sally A Santen (0000-0002-8327-8002, Office of Assessment, Evaluation, and Scholarship, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA), Nicole M Deiorio (0000-0002-8123-1112, Department of Emergency Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA)
Year2023
Volume45
Issue6
Pages588-595
Publication date2023-06-03
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueMedical Teacher (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0142-159X • E-ISSN: 1466-187X
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/0142159x.2023.2169117
PMID36708703
OpenAlexW4318384402
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited27

PURPOSE: Goal orientation (GO) describes an individual's approach to different achievement situations. Understanding the motivations and approach to achieving goals of medical students is vital with the increasing emphasis on self-directed learning. The purpose of this study was to identify themes in self-improvement reflections that relate to each GO dimension (learning, performance-prove, and performance-avoid). METHODS: A sequential explanatory mixed methods design was used. GO data was used to categorize students into groups aligning with the GO dimension identified in the previous stage of quantitative analysis. Individualized learning plans (ILPs) for each GO dimension group were coded inductively to identify emergent themes related to goal setting and achievement. RESULTS: The learning GO group was the largest of the three GOs. Five themes were identified from inductive analysis: importance of practice, identifying elements that helped, identifying structural barriers, opportunities for improvement, and acknowledging experience. While these themes occur across GO, patterns exist within their ILPs based on GO. CONCLUSIONS: We identified common themes for motivations of medical students, and these motivations might differ depending on their GO. Further exploration into the themes over the course of their training will provide additional insights on what factors may be involved in student motivations towards learning and achievement. Educators can use this information to individualize feedback and students can better understand their motivations towards achieving goals

Categorization · Dimension (graph theory) · Goal Orientation · Goal setting · Mathematics education · Medical education · Orientation (vector space) · Artificial Intelligence · Computer Science · Education, Achievement, and Giftedness · Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnout · Innovations in Medical Education · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology

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