Investigating the effect of redundant curriculum on achievement goals (educational and skill areas) and empowerment of medical students in Mazandaran province

The present study investigated the effect of redundant curriculum on achievement goals (educational and skill areas) and empowerment of medical students in medical universities of Mazandaran province. The statistical population of this applied research in the qualitative phase included 15 faculty members and experts of universities of medical sciences familiar with the curriculum. The population of quantitative phase included 2800 medical students of whom 210 were selected as the research sample based on Cochran's formula. The sampling method in the qualitative phase was the purposive sampling method while in the quantitative phase, the stratified random method proportional to the size of the statistical population was used. Methods and tools of data collection in the qualitative phase included the Delphi method which was done using semi-structured interviews, and in the quantitative phase, the field method was conducted with the help of a researcher-made questionnaire including 85 items. Data analysis was performed by exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis using SPSS 21 and SMARTPLS3 software. The results are as follows: 1- In examining the dimensions of the curriculum, 6 dimensions and 44 indicators were identified and confirmed. Main dimensions and indicators include: individual factors of the student (6 indicators), individual factors of the professors (9 indicators), extra-organizational factors (3 indicators), organizational factors (14 indicators), educational factors (8 indicators) and contextual factors (6 indicators) 2- Redundant curriculum has a significant effect on the achievement goals of medical students. 3- Redundant curriculum has a significant effect on the empowerment of medical students.