title: Differential impact of student behaviours on group interaction and collaborative learning: medical students' and tutors' perspectives.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Collaboration is of increasing importance in medical education and medical practice. Students' and tutors' perceptions about small group learning are valuable to inform the development of strategies to promote group dynamics and collaborative learning. This study investigated medical students' and tutors' views on competencies and behaviours which promote effective learning and interaction in small group settings.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted at UNSW Australia. Five focus group discussions were conducted with first and second year medical students and eight small group tutors were interviewed. Data were transcribed verbatim and thematic analysis was conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Students and tutors identified a range of behaviours that influenced collaborative learning. The main themes that emerged included: respectfulness; dominance, strong opinions and openness; constructiveness of feedback; active listening and contribution; goal orientation; acceptance of roles and responsibilities; engagement and enthusiasm; preparedness; self- awareness and positive personal attributes. An important finding was that some of these student behaviours were found to have a differential impact on group interaction compared with collaborative learning. This information could be used to promote higher quality learning in small groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study has identified medical students' and tutors' perceptions regarding interactional behaviours in small groups, as well as behaviours which lead to more effective learning in those settings. This information could be used to promote learning in small groups.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Community Medicine, UNSW Medicine, UNSW Australia, Sydney, 2052, Australia. m.pervaziqbal@unsw.edu.au.
authors.forename: Maha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iqbal
authors.affiliation: Educational Research and Development Unit at the School of Medical Sciences, UNSW Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Gary M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Velan
authors.affiliation: St. George and Sutherland Clinical School and Program Authority, UNSW Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: O'Sullivan
authors.affiliation: Medical Education Development, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, UNSW Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Chinthaka
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Balasooriya
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D001315:Australia; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D000068156:Formative Feedback; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018794:Problem-Based Learning; D011361:Professional Competence; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D013663:Teaching
keywords: Collaborative learning; Group interaction; Small group learning