Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Clinical Psychology, School of Education and Psychology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil

2 Department of Psychology, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Background: Educational failure is one of the most important problems in higher education
institutes in Iran. This study was performed to investigate the factors affecting students’ academic
failure in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional
descriptive study, 280 students of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences were studied in 2009.
They were chosen using multiple cluster sampling. The students’ demographic characteristics
and study information were collected by a valid and reliable questionnaire. Data were analyzed
with SPSS (15) software. Results: The most important factors affecting educational failure from
students’ point of view were: curriculum (4.23 ± 0.63), factors related to educator (3.88 ± 0.55),
learning environment (3.63 ± 0.62), family factors (3.53 ± 0.6), socioeconomic factors (3.45 ±
0.69). There is a significant relationship between attitudes of students in two sexes and educator
(P = 0.03) and socioeconomic environment (P = 0.003). In addition, the results did not show a
significant difference between attitudes of students with age, marital status and employment status
(P > 0.05). Conclusion: More attention to curriculum, factors related to educator and learning
environment can prevent students’ educational failure, in addition to preventing loss of resources
and contribute to develop a more effective educational system.

Keywords

1. Hazavehei SM, Fathei Y, Shamshirei M. Study on the Causes of
Students’ Academic probation in Hamadan University of Medical
Sciences, 2001-2002 Strides in development of Medical Education. J
Med Educ Dev Center Kerman Univ Med Sci 2003;14:35-42 [Persian].
2. Pagani L, Boulerice B, Vitaro F, Tremblay RE. Effects of poverty on
academic failure and delinquency in boys: A change and process
model approach. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 1999;40:1209-19.
3. McEvoy A, Welker R. Antisocial Behavior, Academic Failure, and
School Climate. J Emot Behav Disord 2000;8:130-40.
4. Delors, J. Learning: the Treasure Within. Report to UNESCO of the
International Commission on Education for the Twenty-first Century.
Paris:Unesco. 1996. p. 22-8.
5. Allen JP, Philliber S, Herrling S, Kuperminc GP. Preventing teen
Pregnancy and Academic Failure: Experimental Evaluation of a
Developmentally Based Approach. Child Dev 1997;68:729-42.
6. Young SL, Outing ER, Deffenbacher JL. Correlation among maternal
rejection, dropping out of school and drug use in adolescents:
A pilot Study. J Clin Psychol 1996;52:96-102.
7. Meilman PW, Patties JA, KraisZeilman D. Suicide attempts and
threats on one college compus: Policy and practice. J Am Coll
Health 1994;42:147-54.
8. Gurwitz JH, Field TS, Judge J, Rochon P, Harrold LR, Cadoret C,
et al. The incidence of adverse drug events in two large academic
long-term care facilities. Am J Med 2005;118:251-8.
9. Peterson J. A follow up study of one group an achievers and under
achievers four years after high school graduation. J Roper Rev
2002;22:217.
10. Rivkin SG, Hanushek EA, Kain JF. Teachers, Schools, and Academic
Achievement. Econometrica 2005;73:417-58.
11. Morrish I. The sociology of education: An introduction. London:
Allen & Unwin; 1968. p. 65-89.
12. Fan X, Chen M. Parental Involvement and Students’ Academic
Achievement: A Meta-Analysis. Educ Psychol Rev 2001;13:1-22.
13. SafdariDehcheshmeh F, Delaram M, Parvin N, Kheyri S,
Forouzandeh N, kazemian A. The viewpoints of students and
educators, in faculty nursing and midwifery of Sharekord University
of medical science, about the effective factors in academic
improvement of students, 2004. JSKUMS 2007;9:71-7. [Persian].
14. Vanhanen L, Janhonen S. Factors associated with students’
orientations to nursing. J Adv Nurs 2000;31:1054-62.
15. Darling-Hammond L. Teacher quality and student achievement:
A review of state policy evidence. Educational Policy Analysis
Archives 2000;8:1-44.
16. Uguroglu ME, Walberg HJ. Motivation and achievement:
A quantitative synthesis. Am Educ Res J 1979;16:375-89.
17. Damashek R. Support programs for students on academic
probation. Reports, Descriptive 2003;141:18.
18. Tovar E, Simon MA. Academic probation as a dangerous
opportunity: Factors influencing diverse College students’ success.
CCJRP 2006;30:547-64.
19. Dehbozorgi GH, Mooseli HA. Survey on dropout risk factors among
medical students, Shiraz Medical University, 1999. J Babol Univ
Med Sci 2003;5:74-8.
20. Leondari A, Syngollitov E, Kiosseoglou G. Academicachivment,
motivation and future selves. EDUC studies 1998;24:153-63.
21. Obradovic J, Long JD, Cutuli JJ, Chan CK, Hinz E, Heistad D, et al.
Academic achievement of homeless and highly mobile children in
an urban school district: Longitudinal evidence on risk, growth, and
resilience. Dev Psychopathol 2009;21:493-518.
22. De Civita M, Pagani L, Vitaro F, Tremblay RE. The role of maternal
educational aspirations in mediating the risk of income source on
academic failure in children from persistently poor families. Child
Youth Serv Rev 2004;26:749-69.