Factors Facilitating Academic Success in Dental Students After Initial Failure: A Qualitative Study

Most previous research on academic failure has sought to understand the reasons students failed. The aim of this study was to identify factors that led to academic success for dental students who had previously failed written examinations, using interviews based on Appreciative Inquiry (AI). The AI approach led the investigators to focus on positive aspects of what helped students overcome failure, rather than the reasons for it. Students in this qualitative study, conducted in 2016 at a dental college in India, completed a questionnaire with six open-ended questions and participated in individual semi-structured interviews. Purposive sampling identified 25 students as possible participants; 21 volunteered to participate; and data saturation was reached after interviews with 15. Four key themes were identified in the data collected. On the theme of learning strategies, participants mentioned modifying their attitude toward studying and making it learning-oriented. On the theme of resources, participants reported strategies for obtaining books, others' notes, and teachers' guides to help with studying. In the third theme, psychological aspects, students reported methods used to motivate themselves to succeed after failing. The fourth theme, environmental factors, concerned the key means of support provided by parents, teachers, and seniors/peers. All the students reported that the failure had been a turning point and that overcoming it had boosted their self-confidence. One student said he learned to "never give up and keep trying till you succeed," and most spoke of continuing the best practices they learned. These findings suggest that knowledge-oriented studying, conceptual learning, appropriate study material, internal motivation, and support of parents, teachers, and peers may help dental students overcome failure.