ISSN 2326-7275
International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology ISSN 2326-7275 Vol. 14 (7), pp. 001-012, July, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
The Impact of Instructor-Provided Study Guides on Student Academic Performance in Introductory Anatomy and Physiology
Nicola Khalaf, Jason Craddock, Valerie Weiss, Robert Sillevis and Heather Bradford
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Florida Gulf Coast university
Received 20 June, 2025; Revised 4 July, 2025; Accepted 4 July, 2025; Publish 17 July, 2025
Abstract: Background: Research indicates a strong correlation between success in undergraduate gateway courses and overall student retention. These lower division courses serve as prerequisites to upper-level coursework and are often associated with high failure rates. Anatomy and Physiology-I, a key gateway course for health science majors, exemplifies theses challenges. Methods: This retrospective quasi-experimental study assessed the impact of instructor-provided study guides on student performance in 16 course sections (N = 502) across four semesters at Florida Gulf Coast university. Eight sections used study guides (Study guide group) and eight did not (Control Group). Independent t-tests and the Friedman test compared exam scores, final grades, and pass rates. Results: The Study Guide group had a notably lower failure rate (10.89% compared to 34.70%) and significantly higher exam scores and final grades. Furthermore, no significant instructor variability was found, suggesting that standardized resources may reduce discrepancies in teaching effectiveness. Conclusion: These findings highlight the value of structured learning resources in improving outcomes in complex course. Implementing such resources may promote student success in foundational courses essential for careers in health sciences. Limitations: Quasi-experimental design, lack of randomization, potential confounding variables, and single-institution scope may restrict causal inference and generalizability.
Keywords: Study guides; anatomy and physiology; academic performance; gateway courses; pass rates; student engagement, guided notes; cognitive load.