Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Assistant Professor in Department of Knowledge and Information Science, Kermanshah Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kermanshah, Iran.
2 Assistant Professor in Department of ELT, Kermanshah Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kermanshah, Iran.
Abstract
Reflective thinking is the process of using the mind to search for meaning, to understand phenomena, to make decisions, and to solve problems. One of the most important ways to optimize Information-seeking behavior is to use higher-order thinking, especially reflective thinking. The study aimed to predict information-seeking behavior of medical sciences students based on their reflective thinking in English for specific purposes (ESP) courses. The present study is an applied research that adopted a survey method. The participants were 377 students of medical sciences of Kermanshah Medical University and Islamic Azad University Kermanshah branch. Two questionnaires namely, one researcher-made to assess information-seeking behavior and one to measure reflective thinking perceptions of ESP students were employed. The results revealed that the overall mean of information seeking behavior was lower than the expected value (3) indicating that the ESP students were not at an acceptable level of information-seeking behavior. In addition, the mean of reflective thinking was also lower than the expected value (3), showing that the participants’ level of reflection was not satisfactory. In addition, the result of regression analysis results showed that there is a significant relationship between the two variables of reflective thinking and information-seeking behavior. Based on the findings, paying attention to medical sciences students’ reflective thinking is an important issue. When learning ESP comes into play such an importance will be doubled. On the other hand, students would get benefit from information-seeking behavior if they use high levels of reflective thinking.
Keywords
- Information seeking behavior
- English for specific purposes courses
- medical sciences students
- reflective thinking
Main Subjects
)