The influence of working memory capacity on academic achievement of final year medical students

ABSTRACT

This is a cross sectional study conducted in July 2010 at the International Medical University, Seremban, Malaysia. The objective of this study was to ascertain the relationship between working memory capacity of final MBBS medical students using the digit span backward test and their academic achievement based on the total score at the modified essay questions (MEQ) which was the principal component of the theory examination. Seventy eight final year medical students were recruited, 41 (52.6%) were females and remaining 37 (47.4%) were males. Working memory capacity was measured by digit span backward test (DSBT) which ranged from 3 to 8 digits. The mean digit score was 6.6 ± 1.1 falling under the category of ‘above average’ score. There was no significant difference between working memory capacity and gender (p>0.05). There was no significant difference in the MEQ mean score and the different categories of working memory capacity (p>0.05). The DBST shows uniformity in working memory adequate to pass the modified essay questions. Medical students appear to use encoding and retrieval process in problem solving based on functionality and pattern recognition in tackling the problems in the MEQ.