Self-Regulated Learning in the University of Tabuk: Gender Differences in Strategy and Outcomes

Self-Regulated Learning (SRL) is defined as the adjustment of the individual's affective, meta-cognitive, and behavioral operations during learning to attain the desired level of academic achievement. It is an important skill for undergraduate students and its ignorance cause anxious behavior, a sense of potential failure, and avoidance of learning situations.

The objective of the study was to explore the pattern of SRL among medical students from a student perspective aiming to recognize the learning context and to provide recommendations for future support strategies.

This is a cross-sectional study that targeted a total coverage of medical students at the University of Tabuk, Saudi Arabia using a Self-Regulated Learning Questionnaire which composed of six constructs, namely: environment structuring, goal setting, time management, help-seeking, task strategies, and self-evaluation. An independent-samples test, ANOVA, and post-hoc analysis were conducted.

Females agreed on regular practice of the four domains namely: "environmental structuring, time management, help-seeking, and self-evaluation", mean scores: 3.7(SD=1.023), 3.42(SD=1.035), 3.68(SD=0.99), 3.54(SD=0.94) respectively.

This study identified a remarkable difference in SRL among undergraduate medical students. Females outperformed males in self-regulation; however, both genders in the second year have shown a low level in self-regulation in comparison to fifth year medical students.