Investigating the Influence of Teachers' Characteristics on the Teacher-Student Relations from Students' Perspective at Ilam University of Medical Sciences

Introduction: Establishing an effective teacher-student relationship may affect the quality of learning. Such a complex human relationship may be influenced by various factors in addition to teacher and student. Aim: The present study aimed at investigating the influence of teacher characteristics on the Teacher-student relationship from students' perspective. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive-survey research, statistical population included 1500 students at Ilam University of Medical Sciences Ilam, Iran. Out of which 281 students were selected by simple random sampling, they received and completed series of questionnaires. Data was collected using a researcher-made questionnaire containing 37 Likert type items from which five items measured demographic profile of participants and 32 items measured impact of teacher's characteristics upon the teacher-student relationship. Data was analysed by SPSS software version 16 using descriptive statistics, t-test and One way ANOVA. Results: The current study included 281 students (117 (41.6) male, 164 (58.4) female) studying at Ilam University of Medical Sciences. The effect of teachers' characteristics on the teacher-tudent relationship from the students' perspective in three areas (personal, professional and scientific) scored 4.37 +/- 0.54, 4.05 +/- 0.27, and 3.91 +/- 0.44, respectively. The highest score was related to "respect for students" (Mean=4.74, SD=0.55) and the lowest score was dedicated to 'gender' (Mean=2.40, SD=0.64). Effect of other studied parameters was also higher than the average level. Conclusion: The findings indicated that teacher-student relationship and consequently the quality of education was overshadowed by the overall characteristics of teacher (namely-personal, professional and scientific). Notably, coupled with the professional and scientific properties of the teacher, his/her communication skills may also help to provide a favourable learning condition for the students. Therefore, attention to the education of scientific as well as professional skills of the teachers in interaction with students through appropriate workshops and training courses is a matter of great necessity