Influential factors on academic achievement of university students

Knowing the factors affecting the academic achievement could lead to improved educational programming and reinforced teaching output. The aim of this study was to evaluate the factors which have influence on academic achievement among students.

This descriptive-analytical study was conducted using a systematic random sampling method among 180 students from various disciplines and levels of one of the universities of medical sciences in Tehran in April، 2012. The index for academic achievement was the mean of Grade Point Average (GPA) during the two past semesters. The instruments for data collection were four questionnaires containing demographic information، satisfaction of educational environment، satisfaction of academic content and also Kolb learning style inventory. Data were analyzed using ANOVA، independent sample T-test، and Pearson correlation statistical tests and by the use of SPSS 20 statistical software.

Some variables، including gender، age، academic disciplines and grades، being interested in academic discipline and learning style showed a significant difference in the participants'' academic achievement index. The mean grade of satisfaction of educational environment was 38. 17±9. 06 and its correlation with academic achievement was -0. 067 (p>0. 05). The mean grade of satisfaction of educational content was 11. 93±3. 11 and its correlation with academic achievement was 0. 006 (p>0. 05). Divergent، compatible، absorbent and convergent learning styles were respectively the dominant learning styles among 138 participants (76. 7%)، 23 participants (12. 8%)، 14 participants (7. 7%) and 5 participants (2. 8%).

Gender، age، academic disciplines and learning style can have determining role in the academic performance of medical sciences students.