The relationship between multiple intelligences and reading comprehension: The case of iranian medical students and review of literature

Aim: The present study was an attempt to investigate the relationship between multiple intelligences and reading comprehension ability of medical students. With advancements in psychology and cognitive sciences, the role of individual differences has been highlighted in the realm of L2 teaching. One of the outcomes of regarding individuals as different beings is the concept of Intelligence which has also gained an increasing importance in L2 learning, especially in reading comprehension skill. Method: To this end, 157 students from the Guilan University of Medical Sciences took part in the study. The participants were given a reading comprehension test and Multiple Intelligences Developmental Assessment Scales (MIDAS). Result: Findings indicated that the multiple intelligence profile of the medical students who completed the MIDAS questionnaire included interpersonal, linguistic, and logical-mathematical intelligences with a higher mean compared to other intelligences. Moreover, results of Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis revealed that that there is a positive relationship between medical students’ MI profile and reading comprehension skill. Conclusion: However, this relationship was shown to be rather weak, in that the correlation coefficient was (r= .18, p< .05). Based on the findings of this study, L2 material developer, syllabus designers, and teachers can provide the learners with reading materials which address their multiple intelligences and help them in becoming more successful in their studies.