Affect and research in medical education

Abstract

All studies addressing affective issues were identified from a review of the Proceedings of Research in Medical Education (RIME) volumes between 1970 and 1982. A total of seventy-seven papers were sorted into the following seven categories according to the major issues addressed: (1) descriptive studies of personality, values and attitudes; (2) changes in attitudes; (3) interviewing skills; (4) personality and admission; (5) personality and career choice; (6) stress and coping style; and (7) miscellaneous. Several trends emerged from 13 years of research with implications for medical education. This review clarifies findings which could contribute to a better understanding of student affect and how it may be influenced by teachers. The potency of role models and informal learning in shaping student affect is particularly noteworthy. The authors suggest that studies involving role models need to go beyond observation and description and incorporate feed-back to the subjects of the study.