Using study guides in undergraduate Human Anatomy and Physiology classes: Student perceptions and academic performance

Few research studies have been conducted on the usefulness of study guides and student perceptions of their use. This mixed-method study evaluated student perceptions of the value of two types of study guides (outline vs. completed) in Human Anatomy and Physiology classes (HAP) and analyzed the relationship between these perceptions, demographics, and academic achievement (final grade). The targeted population consisted of 750 students in health majors registered for HAPI and HAPII in the spring and fall semesters of the academic year and taught by the same instructor. In the spring, HAPI students received the study guide outline and HAPII students received both the study guide outline and the study guide completed. In the fall, the design was reversed. Data was collected using a survey administered to all sections to examine students’ perceptions, and students’ performance was evaluated using final course grades. 560 surveys were collected. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS and qualitative data was grouped in categories and themes.