Table 4. PBL Negative preference from the PBL Preference Inventory as dependent in hierarchical linear regression analysis with three blocks of independent variables from survey (N=436)
Three blocks of independent variables Adjusted for socio-cultural information Adjusted for personality traits Adjusted for PBL negative preference
Β (standardized coefficient) t p-value Β (standardized coefficient) t p-value Β (standardized coefficient) t p-value
Block 1: Socio-cultural info                  
(Constant)   4.21 0.001   4.99 0.001   6.46 0.001
Gender (1: Male, 2: Female) -0.12 -2.63 0.009 -0.09 -1.87 0.062 -0.11 -2.34 0.020
Age  -0.04 -0.59 0.559 -0.03 -0.42 0.677 -0.05 -0.88 0.382
Cohabitation                  
Living alone -0.07 -0.64 0.523 -0.14 -1.29 0.200 -0.12 -1.14 0.255
With parents etc. -0.06 -0.64 0.522 -010 -1.05 0.296 -0.12 -1.42 0.158
Fellow students -0.26 -1.77 0.078 -0.31 -2.18 0.030 -0.27 -2.11 0.036
Partner / children -0.21 -1.85 0.065 -0.24 -2.21 0.028 -0.20 -2.04 0.042
Medical school info                  
1st Year -0.09 -1.35 0.177 -0.10 -1.46 0.145 -0.11 -1.81 0.071
2nd Year                  
6th Year 0.15 2.68 0.008 0.15 2.76 0.006 0.19 3.67 0.001
Nepal -0.46 -7.98 0.001 -0.56 -8.91 0.001 -058 -10.05 0.001
Norway                  
N Dakota -0.25 -3.36 0.001 -0.23 -3.14 0.002 -0.15 -2.19 0.029
R2 adjusted 0.20                
F of equation F=10.73; p<0.001                
Block 2: Personality traits                  
Neuroticism       0.11 1.99 0.047 0.14 2.79 0.006
Extraversion       -0.14 -2.68 0.008 -0.05 -1.05 0.293
Openness to experience       -0.11 -2.53 0.012 -0.06 -1.29 0.196
Agreeableness       -0.11 -1.91 0.057 -0.12 -2.42 0.016
Conscientiousness       0.07 1.33 0.184 0.16 3.44 0.001
R2 adjusted       0.26          
F of equation       F=10.03; p<0.001          
Block 3: Opposite PBL preference                  
PBL Negative             -0.37 -8.17 0.001
R2 adjusted             0.37    
F of equation           F=15.20; p<0.001    
Int J Med Educ. 2015; 6:84-92; doi: 10.5116/ijme.558e.6451