Achievement Motivation and Online Lecture Usage in a Human Structure Course: Any Correlation?

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

2010

Abstract

Background: This study examined the relationship between medical students’ achievement motive (i.e., motive to achieve success and the motive to avoid failure) and online lecture usage. We hypothesized that a significant correlation exists between online lecture usage and fear of failure on the Achievement Motives Scale.

Summary of work: In the Human Structure course at our medical school, core content is delivered only via online lectures. 89 first-year medical students (85% response rate) were administered the 10 item revised Achievement Motive Scale (Lang & Fries, 2006). Server log files for the Human Structure course were downloaded to determine students’ lecture usage.

Summary of results: Pearson correlation revealed a significant relationship between online lecture usage and hope of success (r = .249, p = .019). No significant correlation was noted between online lecture usage and fear of failure (r = .011, p = .922).

Conclusions: Students who accessed online lectures more frequently are those who are motivated to succeed and do well in the course rather than students who have fear of failing the course.

Take-home messages: Students with achievement motivation focused more on success than failure are more likely to use online lectures.

Comments

Presented at the 2010 Association for Medical Education (AMEE) Conference, Glasgow, Scotland.

Presentation Number 2K1.

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