GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ATTRIBUTION TO SUCCESS AND FAILURE IN EXAMS: STUDENTS’ PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Objective: To study was to determine the gender difference in the various factors attributed to success and failure in exams.

Study Design: Cross sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out at Army Medical College, from Sep 2018 to Oct 2018.

Methodology: The study was carried out on 400 undergraduate students of Army Medical college (3rd and 4th year MBBS). A pretested and self-administered questionnaire was prepared and given to the students after explaining the details of its contents and how to answer them. The responses to each item were added using a Likert scale.

Results: Out of 400 participants 324 completed the study. There were 200 (61.7%) male students and 124 (38.3%) female students with age range of 21-23 years and average age of 21 years. Personal interest and good teacher instruction, 148 (45.7%) and 147 (45.4%) respectively, were the attributions most frequently selected by the students for their success in exam. Whereas personal ability and good coping ability were stated to be the next frequently stated responses by the students, 140 (43.2%) and 141 (43.5%) respectively. In this study (80%) male students stated their personal ability to be the reason for their good results as compared to only 66%( females who stated their own ability to be the reason for their good performance (p-value of <0.05).

Conclusion: There was a significant difference between males and female students mentioning ability, task difficulty and good preparation as factors attributable to their success and failure in exams.