The satisfaction and examination success of medical school students with traditional education and problem based learning in view of their learning styles

The aim of the present study was to determine the level of satisfaction of Akdeniz University Medical School students with traditional education and problem based learning and to compare their examination success in both education methods, in view of their learning styles.The present study was conducted on the first semester students of Akdeniz University medical school (n=186), during the 2008-2009 academic year. The Kolb learning style inventory was administered to determine the learning styles of the students. A questionnaire consisting of 16 statements was used to determine the students? level of satisfaction with PBL and with traditional education. For the comparison of examination success, the scores received in PBL module examination and those received in the committee examination held at the end of the traditional education courses were compared.According to their learning styles, the vast majority of the students were divergers and assimilators (47.7% and 41.5%, respectively), and the highest scores to the statements in favor of traditional education were given by the assimilators whereas the accommodators and divergers gave the highest scores to the statements in favor of PBL. Additionally, the highest scores to the statement, ?Overall, I am satisfied with this education method? were given by the assimilators for the traditional education, and by the accommodators for PBL. As the examination grades of the students were examined according to their learning styles, it was determined that the assimilators received higher grades in the committee examination involving traditional courses while the accommodators and divergers received higher grades in the PBL examination.As a result of the study, it was found that the vast majority of the students were assimilators and divergers and a great number of students were more satisfied with PBL than with traditional education. According to the students? learning styles, the assimilators were more satisfied with and more successful in the traditional courses whereas the divergers were more satisfied with and more successful in the PBL courses.