title: [Learning strategy or strategic learning? Gender-dependent success in medical studies at the Medical University of Vienna].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Analysis of the fact that male medical students have a higher success rate at the written test (multiple-choice questions) at the end of the first study year (SIP-1), although female students perform significantly better in school (school marks in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and English) and school performance is a positive predictor of study success. It is hypothesized that aspects of strategic learning influence study success and that sex-specific differences exist.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective study including 726 medical students data on strategic learning (written questionnaire, 45 items) were collected. Factor analysis produced 11 factors, which then were related to results of SIP-1 (passed/failed), and to sex.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight out of the 11 factors were dependent on sex or study success, four of them dependent on sex as well as study success ("confidence in success", "learning a lot and ab initio", "high learning capacity", and "distressed/diligent/aimless"). Overall, male students showed a more distinct methodical learning approach. Moreover, "learning by understanding" seems not to be relevant for study success.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gender-specific learning behaviour, which generally leads to better performance of girls in school, fails in the situation of SIP-1. Future developments of curriculum and examination system should take into account gender specific requirements.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Epidemiologie, Zentrum für Public Health der Medizinischen Universität Wien, Osterreich. gerald.haidinger@meduniwien.ac.at
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Haidinger
authors.forename: Lukas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mitterauer
authors.forename: Evelyne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rimroth
authors.forename: Oskar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Frischenschlager
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001317:Austria; D003479:Curriculum; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D019303:Multilingualism; D012737:Sex Factors; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires