After presenting how research on student learning has changed significantly over the years, depending on the quantitative or qualitative viewpoint used, the authors concentrate on three focuses: superficial, profound and high yield, studying which of these focuses dominates in the learning among nursing students at the University School of Nursing in Murcia. As a result, the authors pose the following question: Why from first year to second year courses is there a positive evolution regarding the profound focus which changes to a negative evolution from second to third year courses which favor the superficial focus?