Student-related factors affecting academic engagement

A qualitative study exploring the experiences of Iranian undergraduate nursing students

Authors

  • Hossein Karimi Moonaghi Evidence-Based Care Research Center, Mashhad University of MeMashhaddical Sciences, , Iran , Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

Keywords:

Academic success; Engagement, Students, Nursing; Learning, Qualitative research

Abstract

Background and aim: Academic engagement is an important indicator of quality of higher education. This study aimed to explain the experiences of undergraduate nursing students in terms of student-related factors affecting academic engagement. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted in 2017 at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in Iran. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and focus groups with 7 and 16 undergraduate nursing students at Mashhad School of Nursing and Midwifery; respectively. Undergraduate nursing students of both genders who enrolled in different academic semesters with various academic achievements were selected. Data were analyzed using conventional content analysis approach proposed by Graneheim and Lundman, with the support of MAXQDA software. Results: After analyzing the data, 374 initial codes were extracted, which ultimately conceptualized within six main categories including: “learning motivation”, “interest in learning”, “student participation in extracurricular scientific programs”, “self-directedness”, “mental concentration”, and “demonstration of emotions”.  Conclusion: The findings of this study indicated that student-related factors such as individual motivation and interest, mental concentration, participation in extracurricular activities, and self-directedness in learning, as well as students’ sense of satisfaction with learning could play important roles in the creation of academic engagement in undergraduate nursing students that need to be of interest to nursing educators and planners.

 

References

Oriol X, Amutio A, Mendoza M, Da Costa S, Miranda R. Emotional Creativity as Predictor of Intrinsic

Motivation and Academic Engagement in University Students: The Mediating Role of Positive Emotions.

Front Psychol. 2016; 7: 1243. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01243. PMID: 27610091, PMCID: PMC4996992.

Jerome M, Janz KF, Baquero B, Carr LJ. Introducing sit-stand desks increases classroom standing time

among university students. Prev Med Rep. 2017; 8: 232-7. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2017.10.019. PMID:

, PMCID: PMC5683670.

Clarke J, DiMartino J. A Personal Prescription for Engagement. Principal Leadership. 2004; 4(8): 19-23.

Salamonson Y, Andrew S, Everett B. Academic engagement and disengagement as predictors of

performance in pathophysiology among nursing students. Contemp Nurse. 2009; 32(1-2): 123-32. doi:

5172/conu.32.1-2.123. PMID: 19697983.

Noohi E, Montazeri H, Shokohi M. A Review of the academic engagement of medical students in kerman

university of medical sciences, Iran, 2011-2012. Strides in Development of Medical Education. 2015;

(1)1-9.

Noohi E, Abaszadeh A, Maddah SSB. University engagement and collaborative learning in nursing

students of Kerman University of Medical Sciences. Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res. 2013; 18(6): 505. PMID:

, PMCID: PMC3917136.

Horton K, Tschudin V, Forget A. The value of nursing: a literature review. Nurs Ethics. 2007; 14(6): 716- 40. doi: 10.1177/0969733007082112. PMID: 17901183.

van Uden JM, Ritzen H, Pieters JM. Engaging students: The role of teacher beliefs and interpersonal

teacher behavior in fostering student engagement in vocational education. Teaching and Teacher

Education. 2014; 37: 21-32. doi: 10.1016/j.tate.2013.08.005.

Kahu ER. Framing student engagement in higher education. Studies in Higher Education. 2011; 38(5): 758- 73. doi: 10.1080/03075079.2011.598505.

Al-Busaidi ZQ. Qualitative research and its uses in health care. Sultan Qaboos Univ Med J. 2008; 8(1): 11- 9. PMID: 21654952, PMCID: PMC3087733.

Graneheim UH, Lundman B. Qualitative content analysis in nursing research: concepts, procedures and

measures to achieve trustworthiness. Nurse Educ Today. 2004; 24(2): 105-12. doi:

1016/j.nedt.2003.10.001. PMID: 14769454.

Guba EG. Criteria for assessing the trustworthiness of naturalistic inquiries. Educ Technol Res Dev. 1981;

(2): 75-91.

Kosgeroglu N, Acat MB, Ayranci U, Ozabaci N, Erkal S. An investigation on nursing, midwifery and

health care students’ learning motivation in Turkey. Nurse Educ Pract. 2009; 9(5): 331-9. doi:

1016/j.nepr.2008.07.003. PMID: 18768371.

Mäenpää K, Pyhältö K, Järvenoja H, Peltonen J. Nursing students' motivation regulation and its

relationship with engagement and burnout. Nord J Nurs Res. 2017. doi: 10.1177/2057158517731719

Rose S. Academic success of nursing students: Does motivation matter? Teaching and Learning in Nursing.

; 6(4): 181-4. doi: 10.1016/j.teln.2011.05.004.

Hassankhani H, Mohajjel AA, Rahmani A, Mohammadpoorfard Z. The relationship between learning

motivation and self efficacy among nursing students. Res Dev Med Educ. 2015; 4(1): 97-101. doi:

15171/rdme.2015.016.

Leach MJ, Hofmeyer A, Bobridge A. The impact of research education on student nurse attitude, skill and

uptake of evidence‐based practice: a descriptive longitudinal survey. J Clin Nurs. 2016; 25(1-2): 194-203.

doi: 10.1111/jocn.13103. PMID: 26769207.

Peck SC, Roeser RW, Zarrett N, Eccles JS. Exploring the Roles of Extracurricular Activity Quantity and

Quality in the Educational Resilience of Vulnerable Adolescents: Variable- and Pattern-Centered

Approaches. J Soc Issues. 2008; 64(1): 135-56. doi: 10.1111/j.1540-4560.2008.00552.x. PMID: 19543445,

PMCID: PMC2699299.

Jones ML, Rush BR, Elmore RG, White BJ. Level of and motivation for extracurricular activity are

associated with academic performance in the veterinary curriculum. J Vet Med Educ. 2014; 41(3): 275-83.

doi: 10.3138/jvme.1213-163R. PMID: 24981424.

Yang GF, Jiang XY. Self-directed learning readiness and nursing competency among undergraduate

nursing students in Fujian province of China. Int J Nurs Sci. 2014; 1(3): 255-9. doi:

1016/j.ijnss.2014.05.021.

Shokar GS, Shokar NK, Romero CM, Bulik RJ. Self-directed learning: looking at outcomes with medical

students. Fam Med. 2002; 34(3): 197-200. PMID: 11922535.

Dinkevich E, Ozuah PO. Self‐directed learning activities of paediatric residents. Med Educ. 2003; 37(4):

-9. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2923.2003.01459.x. PMID: 12654126.

Sulaiman WIW, Mahbob MH, Azlan AA. Learning outside the classroom: Effects on student concentration

and interest. Procedia Soc Behav Sci. 2011; 18: 12-7. doi: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.05.003.

Hughes SJ. Student attendance during college-based lectures: a pilot study. Nurs Stand. 2005; 19(47): 41-9.

doi: 10.7748/ns.19.47.41.s52.

Gump SE. Keep Students Coming By Keeping Them Interested: Motivatorsfor Class Attendance. College

Student Journal. 2004; 38(1): 157.

Walker S, Rossi D, Anastasi J, Gray-Ganter G, Tennent R. Indicators of undergraduate nursing students'

satisfaction with their learning journey: an integrative review. Nurse Educ Today. 2016; 43: 40-8. doi:

1016/j.nedt.2016.04.011. PMID: 27286943.

Published

2021-12-24

Issue

Section

Articles