Using Knowledge Decrement to Compare Medical Students’ Long-term Retention of Self-study Reading and Lecture Materials

Abstract

The purpose of the current study was to contrast the long-term retention of material acquired primarily through lectures and assigned self-study readings. Sixteen third-year female medical students took part in the study, and the material tested was from a six week Behavioural Sciences Module which incorporated social science, medical science and clinical information. A specially constructed examination paper was used to measure retention one year later. Knowledge decrement (the percentage of material lost) was one of the measures employed. The two study methods did not differ consistently in terms of knowledge decrement or class performance. The top students (in terms of module performance) remembered more than the weakest students, but not because they were less prone to knowledge decrement. Individuals differed substantially in terms of the relative percentages of lecture and reading material forgotten. Using knowledge decrement to identify which study approaches best suit an individual student is disc...