Another Citation: The Relationship between Erciyes, Selçuk, and Akdeniz Medical School Third-Year Students’ Learning Approaches and Their Non-attendance Attitude and Tendencies

 The Relationship between Erciyes, Selçuk, and Akdeniz Medical School Third-Year Students’ Learning Approaches and Their Non-attendance Attitude and Tendencies

Journal of Medical Education 

Spring 2017; 16(2):97-108 

Abstract

Background: Non-attendance is an undesirable student behavior. Although some studies about the factors for non-attendance behavior have been carried out at medical schools, the learning approach of a student has not been studied and it can also be a factor for non-attendance. We aimed to assess the relationship between learning approaches and non-attendance attitude and tendency. Methods: This is a correlational study. 644 students registered in three medical schools were enrolled. Data were collected during May 2015. “The Revised Two Factor Learning Approach Scale”, “Non-attendance Attitude Scale” and “Non-attendance Tendency Scale” were used as data collection tools. Results: Out of 478 studied students, 10.3% mentioned that they never missed theoretical classes and 71.3% mentioned that they never missed practical classes. Sleeplessness was the most common reason for non-attendance. 45.6% of all students thought that non-attendance affected student success. The students’ mean score for deep learning was 29.5±6.1 and for superficial learning was 30.5±5.6. The mean score for non-attendance attitude scale was 54.4±12.8 and from non-attendance tendency scale was 90.5±19.6. Conclusion: Learning approach is an effective factor for attendance. As deep learning approach is adopted, tendency for non-attendance decreases and the attitude becomes positive. 

 

Another Citation: Use of portable devices to measure brain and heart activity during relaxation and comparative conditions: Electroencephalogram, heart rate variability, and correlations with self-report psychological measures

Use of portable devices to measure brain and heart activity during relaxation and comparative conditions: Electroencephalogram, heart rate variability, and correlations with self-report psychological measures

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Abstract

Recent technological advancements have enabled the development of portable devices that facilitate psychophysiological measurement in ecologically valid settings. The aim of the present study was to establish normative heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), and electroencephalogram (EEG) power during relaxation and comparative conditions. Fifty healthy adult participants completed baseline psychological questionnaires and subjective ratings of relaxation while portable devices measured continuous EEG, HR, and HRV data during eyes-open (EO) and eyes-closed (EC) resting, relaxation induction, and patting a toy dog (TD). Subjective relaxation levels were higher after the relaxation and TD compared to EO and EC resting conditions. Psychophysiological indications of relaxation included higher HRV during relaxation, and higher delta, theta, and alpha power during the TD condition. EEG recorded using a portable wireless single-channel device showed frontal EC versus EO differences comparable with those reported using traditional laboratory-based EEG equipment. Additionally, alpha power was positively correlated with resilience and negatively correlated with depression, anxiety, and stress. Delta power correlated positively with subjective relaxation levels during relaxation. Overall, the results suggest that portable devices can provide valid measurements of psychophysiological activity during relaxation outside of laboratory settings. Changes in HRV and EEG waveforms reveal more information about physiological relaxation and show promise for real-world monitoring in fields of study that investigate human arousal, stress, and health.