Background: Rapid scientific progression in today's world has caused a significant decrease in the half-life of knowledge in different scientific fields. An effective way to be up-to-date in this ever changing world is to be a self-directed learner. Purpose This study aimed to explore the characteristics that propel Iranian MSc students of nursing into self-directed learning.

 

Methods: A qualitative design using conventional content analysis approach was used in this study. Totally, ۲۰ semi-structured interviews were conducted with fourteen MSc nursing students and three instructors from Shiraz University of Medical Sciences selected using purposive sampling. Data collection and analysis were run concurrently and continued until data saturation.

 

Results: Data analysis indicated that self-directed students had various characteristics that motivated them towards learning. These characteristics were categorized into three main themes, including “openness to experience”, “motivation to improve”, and “socio-professional commitment”, and sixteen subthemes.

 

Conclusion: The findings showed that some characteristics facilitated and directed the process of self-directed learning and helped the students to attain their learning goals. Since some of these characteristics can be acquired and improved during education, their recognition can provide a foundation for their development in different levels of academic learning, especially in higher education.

 

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