The role of collective efficacy and co-regulation in medical students’ performance in small group contexts

PURPOSE: This study investigated the role of collective efficacy and co-regulation in terms of students’ performance during small group projects in a medical research program. The effect of collective efficacy in student performance was expected to be mediated by co-regulation. METHODS: A total of 50 students who enrolled in a medical research program worked on their medical research project in small groups over a period of 9 weeks. After they had submitted their final research project reports as groups at the end of the course, the collective efficacy and co-regulation surveys were conducted online. RESULTS: The mediation model was significant and explained 26.61% of the variance in student performance. The total effect of collective efficacy on student performance was significant and the indirect effect through co-regulation was also significant. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that collective efficacy influenced student performance through co-regulation in group learning contexts. Considering the fact that more and more collaborative learning now occurs in medical education, the result of this study can provide significant insights for enhancing students’ performance in small group contexts.