Does the Perception of Educational Environment Impact GPA Score: A Correlational Study Using the DREEM Survey at Hail University College of Medicine, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background:

The degree of how much learners perceive their learning climate has been found to be associated with their academic performance. In the current study, it was aimed to identify the optimal criteria of the good educational environment and its relation to student' GPAs. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted at Hail Medical College, Saudi Arabia. It included all-female medical students in the academic year 2019-2020. After the ethical approval was obtained, the Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure (DREEM) survey was distributed online to measure students' perceptions of their academic climate. All participants' GPAs were collected and correlated to their DREEM scores using Pearson's correlation ® coefficient test. The one-way ANOVA analysis was used for the social demographic data on the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences V.22 (SPSS). Results: One hundred thirty-five students completed the survey yielding 66.5% response rate with most students aged between 22-24 65.2% (N=88) years old, and the mean students' GPA was excellent (M=3.33, SD=0.49). The DREEM score was perceived as more positive than negative (M=128.97, SD=23.74), and all the five subscales were within a satisfactory range. The majority of item analyses scored >2, needed further enhancement (N=39). For the social demographic data, the social students’ self-perception (SSSP) subscale was significant in Hail residents. The students’ academic self-perception (SASP) domain showed significant data in students who lived in rural areas. The correlation to the academic performance showed a weak positive correlation with better academic self-perception r=0.19, (p=0.02) and social self-perception r=0.26, (p=0.003) in students. Conclusion: The positive students' academic and social self-perceptions were found to be associated with their academic excellence. Therefore, items within these domains that scored less than two should be significantly improved with extensive efforts to maintain students' academic achievement. As educators, we should seek to provide a productive educational environment to maximise learning outcomes. We need to provide valuable solutions to overcome stressful medical study to the medical students, ensuring a good support system for both academic and social problems. Also, by regular monitoring of the educational climate, we can detect any weakening factors and providing useful learning, social and academic strategies.