title: Reciprocal benefit to senior and junior peers: An outcome of a pilot research workshop at medical university.
abstract: A study was planned to explore and evaluate the role of senior peers in the learning process of their juniors during a Research Methodology workshop, and to assess educational advantages for seniors in leading roles. Twenty medical students participated with 15 juniors (1st to 3rd year) and 5 seniors (final/fourth year) divided into 5 groups with one senior student each at Foundation University Medical College, Islamabad, Pakistan. The seniors supervised and engaged the groups to develop research questions, formulate objectives, review literature, outline study designs, develop study tools/questionnaire and finally shape their projects in synopsis. Overall advantages to both juniors and seniors through this peer-assisted learning model were assessed by feedback proformas with open and closed-ended questions. Senior peers' facilitation was effective in the learning process of junior peers. Senior peers also gained academic benefit by exercising their leadership qualities through teaching and maintaining group dynamics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Foundation University Medical College, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Sadia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahsin
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Foundation University Medical College, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Seyyeda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abbas
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Foundation University Medical College, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Noshin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zaidi
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Foundation University Medical College, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Azad
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Foundation University Medical College, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Fatima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kaleem
mesh_terms: D001290:Attitude; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000193:education*; D003479:Curriculum; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D008297:Male; D017145:Models, Educational; D010154:Pakistan; D010379:Peer Group; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012107:Research Design; D013337:Students, Medical
keywords: Peer assisted learning, Junior students, Senior students.