Pilot study of the study behavior inventory: Preliminary analysis of a new tool for health science education students

Historically, educational researchers have considered many factors related to academic performance, including student personality and learning styles [1-3], teaching and learning environments [4,5], student learning approaches [6], student perceptions of academic quality [7], and the impact of specific study skills (e.g., rereading, self-testing) [8-12]. However, this research has frequently focused on undergraduate college students. There are limited studies relative to academic performance of academic health science students. The few studies documenting the benefits of specific study skills in health science students have focused on medical students. For example, time management, organizing study, and selftesting have been shown to impact medical students’ academic performance [9], like improvements on the course specific examinations [13]. However, the literature does not address the use of time management and self-testing for other health science students. These students would benefit from research directly related to their individual characteristics and programs of study. In addition, there are limited data on the specific strategies that students should utilize to improve behaviors and skills such as time management, organization, or selftesting. The current study attempts to address these deficits in the literature by developing a tool that measures concrete study behaviors among students of various professions within the health sciences.