Multiple Intelligence and Academic Performance among BSc. Nursing Undergraduates in Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka; A Correlational Study
Abstract
Multiple Intelligence (MI) is a major
determinant of academic performance among
undergraduates. A descriptive correlational
study was conducted to assess the types of MIs
and to determine the correlation between MI
and Academic performance among BSc. Nursing
Undergraduates of four academic years in
Kotelawala Defence University. The McKenzie’s
MI Inventory was used to assess the types of MI
while the Semester Grade Point Average (SGPA)
was used as the measure of academic
performance. The Pearson Correlation was used
to evaluate the correlation between MI and
Academic Performance, and one-way ANOVA
was used to assess the mean differences of MI
among batches. The response rate of the
participants was 69.6% (n=126), and the mean
(±SD) age of the participants was 23.65 (±3.82)
years. When considering the mean (±SD) values
of MI, Interpersonal Intelligence scored the
highest (7.94±2.24), and Verbal Intelligence
scored the lowest (6.51±2.23). Naturalistic (p=
0.000), Musical (p=0.041), Existential (p=0.026)
and Visual (p=0.022) intelligences had
significant mean differences among the four
batches. There was no significant correlation
between SGPA and types of MIs among first- and
second-year undergraduates. However, SGPA of
third-year undergraduates had a significant
positive correlation with Interpersonal
intelligence (p= 0.045, r=0.422) and significant
negative correlation with Intrapersonal
Intelligence (p=0.018, r=-0.488). Further, SGPA
of fourth-year undergraduates had a significant
positive correlation with Naturalistic (p=0.041,
r=0.404) and Existential (p=0.008, r=0.512)
intelligences. It was recommended to make
nursing undergraduates aware regarding their
MIs and do necessary changes in the nursing
curricula and to evaluate its effectiveness in
future research.