Change in Student's perceptions of the learning environment after a period of exposure: A mixed method approach with quantitative and qualitative analysis.

Objective: To compare change in students'perceptions of learning environment at the time of their enrollment and after moving to the second semester.

Methods: The mixed method quantitative-qualitative studywas conducted in two parts at the Pathology Department, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi,from Marchto October, 2018, and comprised undergraduate medical students. Data was collected using the Dundee Ready Education Environment Measurein phase one. In phase two, a focus group discussion was conducted on the same theme with a small group of students. Data was analysed using SPSS 21.

Results: Of the 235 students in the first phase, 54(23%) were males and 181 (77%) were females. The overall score from all five sub-scales of the inventory was 128.22 out of a maximum 200. In the second phase, there were 10 participants; 3(30%) males and 7(70%) females.

Conclusions: Students' perception of their learning environment altered from being positive in the first semester to being barely satisfactory by the end of semester 2.