An Analysis of the Conceptual Difficulties of the Endocrinology Domain and an Empirical Analysis of Student and Expert Understanding of That Domain

Abstract

Background: Endocrine feedback systems are not considered too difficult to learn. This opinion is shared by both students and teachers. However, an analysis of the domain suggests that this view might be too optimistic. Purposes: To investigate whether students do indeed have a good understanding of the mechanism and underlying subsystems of hormonal feedback systems. Methods: Three 3rd-year medical students of the Maastricht University medical school and three gynecologists were asked to explain the regulation of the female cycle. The explanations of the students and the experts were videotaped.Verbatim transcripts of the sessions were analyzed into propositions and were classified and compared with 5 inherent domain difficulties identified in a domain analysis. Results: Our analysis shows that students did not address the fundamental processes that take place in the follicle and its cells. The students did not follow a timeline in their explanations. The experts, however, did address the fundamental processes and did structure their presentations according to a timeline. Conclusions: Students underestimate the complexity of the regulation of the female cycle, probably because they are already partly familiar with it as a result of their high school studies.