Document Type : Original Article
Authors
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The scientific Olympiad is an event that creates a competitive environment for
student groups of medical universities across the country to solve problems that can help improve
the health system. This study aims to explain the issues of the scientific Olympiad program of Iranian
medical students.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted using content analysis method, and the
data were collected through 21 semi‑structured, in‑depth interviews with experts from December
2018 to April 2020. Participants were selected using purposive sampling methods. Twenty‑one
students, domain leaders, question designers, Olympiad executive experts, and teachers (11 males
and 10 females) participated in the interviews. Data analysis was performed based on the steps of
Graneheim and Lundman’s method. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and subjected to a
qualitative analysis by MAXQDA 2018 software.
RESULTS: From the analysis of data, four themes, including inattention to context, inattention to
input, inattention to process, and inattention to output, emerged.
CONCLUSIONS: The scientific Olympiad can lead to interuniversity scientific exchanges and paves
the way for the promotion of education and evaluation of learners in medical universities, but if not
correctly implemented and the problems of previous periods are not solved, it will not help the health
system and can impose considerable costs on the system.
Keywords
Students’ Attitudes towards and Passion for Science.
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