Instructor factors associated with medical students’ lecture evaluation: a longitudinal analysis

PURPOSE: This study identified factors that affect lecture evaluation by analyzing sophomores from Dankook University, examining each cluster’s characteristics, and comparing differences among trajectories. METHODS: This study identified factors that affect lecture evaluation by analyzing sophomores from Dankook University, examining each cluster’s characteristics, and comparing differences among trajectories. RESULTS: The lecture evaluation score decreased as the teaching hours per instructor in a year increased by an hour, and the number of instructors per lecture increased by one individual. During trajectory analysis, the first trajectory had lower lecture evaluation scores overall but relatively high appropriateness of the textbook and punctuality of class, whereas the second trajectory had higher lecture evaluation scores overall for all four items. CONCLUSION: The two trajectories showed differences in teaching methods (understanding of lecture content and usefulness of the lecture) rather than in external factors (appropriateness of the textbook and punctuality of class). Therefore, to improve lecture satisfaction, enhancing instructors’ instructional competencies through lectures and adjusting the teaching hours by assigning an adequate number of instructors per lecture are recommended.