Classroom Seat Selection from the Perspective of Iranian Medical Sciences` Students and its Relationship with Self-esteem: a Cross Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Classroom is an important place for university students. Students do not choose their seat at random and many factors may influence their seat selection. On the other hand, where they choose to seat may have a relationship with their self-esteem. Aims and objectives: Determination of classroom seat selection from the perspective of Iranian medical sciences` students and its relationship with self-esteem was the aim of this study. Study Design: We conducted a cross- sectional study. Setting: Different faculties of Golestan University of Medical Sciences (GoUMS, Gorgan, North of Iran) were our study setting. Materials and Methods: 350 students of both sexes and with different fields of study at GoUMS were included in the study by convenience sampling from September to December in 2016. In order to measure university students` perspective, seat selection questionnaire (Cronbach’s alpha =0.82 ) with 9 multiple choice questions (MCQs) was used which answer to each question has been reported with a frequency and percent. Ten- item Rosenberg Self- Esteem (RSE) scale (Cronbach’s alpha=0.74) consisting 5 negative and 5 positive items with 4- point Likert (score of 0 to 3 from completely agree to completely disagree) were used. Range of score was between 0 to 30. Score lower than 15, between 15-25, and more than 25 indicated low, intermediate, and high self- esteem, respectively. Statistics: We analyzed data by SPSS software version 16. Descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation (SD), frequency, and partial frequency percentage were used. In order to test the relationship between place and direction of the seat, and self-esteem, the chi-squared test was used with significance level of less than 0.05. Results: 300 out of 350 medical sciences` students with a mean age of 21.5 (2.4) year completed the study (participation rate = 85.7%). 50.3 % of participants were male, and with nursing field of study (28.7%). Proximity to instructor or board, or projector (48.7%) and personal factors such as eyeglasses/hearing aids (19.3%) were the most and the least important factors influencing students` seat selection. And “inability to see/hear properly” was the most important factor that made students change their seats. The majority of students mentioned that they choose the middle of the classroom (43.3%). Low, intermediate and high self- steam were seen among 5 (1.7%), 290 (96.6%), and 5 (1.7%) of students, respectively, and there was no relationship between classroom seat selection and self-esteem of students. Conclusion: From the perspective of Iranian medical sciences` students, classroom seat selection is affected by many factors. And they usually preferred to sit in the middle of the classroom. However, there was no relationship between students seating preferences and self-esteem. Thus, considering to these factors may help instructors and educational policy makers improving the quality of courses, students` performance, and classroom attractiveness.