Table 3.
Non-RCT participants' reasons for preferring small groups or interactive seminars
| Non-RCT participants | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SG | IS | |||||||||
| Number of students completing questionnaire A | N = 68 | N = 36 | ||||||||
| strongly disagree | disagree | neutral | agree | strongly agree | strongly disagree | disagree | neutral | agree | strongly agree | |
| % | % | |||||||||
| In general, I prefer working in small groups.* | 0 | 0 | 7.5 | 59.7 | 32.8 | 0 | 14.7 | 20.6 | 50.0 | 14.7 |
| I retain information much better when I work in a small group.** | 0 | 0 | 11.9 | 58.2 | 29.9 | 0 | 14.7 | 41.2 | 32.4 | 11.8 |
| I want to participate actively during lectures and seminars. | 0 | 9.0 | 20.9 | 47.8 | 22.4 | 0 | 17.6 | 26.5 | 41.2 | 14.7 |
| I like to have the material demonstrated to me. | 1.5 | 3.0 | 22.4 | 53.7 | 19.4 | 0 | 2.9 | 17.6 | 52.9 | 23.5 |
| I appreciate direct feedback from a tutor/lecturer. | 0 | 3.0 | 13.4 | 65.7 | 17.9 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 17.6 | 50.0 | 26.5 |
| I dislike compulsory course components.*** | 1.5 | 37.3 | 43.3 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 8.8 | 8.8 | 26.5 | 41.2 | 14.7 |
| I prefer to determine for myself when I study. | 0 | 1.5 | 22.4 | 52.2 | 23.9 | 0 | 2.9 | 11.8 | 52.9 | 32.4 |
| I prefer to work out the material for myself. | 1.5 | 19.4 | 35.8 | 38.8 | 4.5 | 5.9 | 11.8 | 38.2 | 38.2 | 5.9 |
| To me, small group teaching is an extra and not essential preparation for the exam. | 16.4 | 55.2 | 4.5 | 19.4 | 4.5 | 11.8 | 41.2 | 20.6 | 26.5 | 0 |
| I prefer to start studying just before the exam. | 28.4 | 40.3 | 14.9 | 13.4 | 3.0 | 14.7 | 41.2 | 20.6 | 17.6 | 5.9 |
| I enjoy preparing for small group tutorials. | 3.0 | 13.4 | 26.9 | 50.7 | 6.0 | 5.9 | 14.7 | 29.4 | 38.2 | 11.8 |
SG = Small group tutorials. IS = Interactive seminars.
Questionnaire A = Questionnaire sent to all students three weeks before the start of the block.
* P = 0.001; ** P < 0.001 and *** P = 0.008 by student unpaired t test.