TY - JOUR
T1 - Maximizing Standardization While Ensuring Equity
T2 - Exploring the Role of Applicant Experiences, Attributes, and Metrics on Performance of a Surgery-Specific Situational Judgment Test
AU - Chen, Jennifer H.
AU - Costa, Paula
AU - Gardner, Aimee K.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Association of Program Directors in Surgery
PY - 2023/11
Y1 - 2023/11
N2 - BACKGROUND: Situational judgment tests (SJT) are hypothetical but realistic scenario-based assessments that allow residency programs to measure judgment and decision-making among future trainees. A surgery-specific SJT was created to identify highly valued competencies among residency applicants. We aim to demonstrate a stepwise process for validation of this assessment for applicant screening through exploration of two often-overlooked sources of validity evidence – relations with other variables and consequences. METHODS: This was a prospective multi-institutional study involving 7 general surgery residency programs. All applicants completed the SurgSJT, a 32-item test aimed to measure 10 core competencies: adaptability, attention to detail, communication, dependability, feedback receptivity, integrity, professionalism, resilience, self-directed learning, and team orientation. Performance on the SJT was compared to application data, including race, ethnicity, gender, medical school, and USMLE scores. Medical school rankings were determined based on the 2022 U.S. News & World Report rankings. RESULTS: In total, 1491 applicants across seven residency programs were invited to complete the SJT. Of these, 1454 (97.5%) candidates completed the assessment. Applicants were predominantly White (57.5%), Asian (21.6%), Hispanic (9.7%), Black (7.3%), and 52% female. A total of 208 medical schools were represented, majority were allopathic (87.1%) and located in United States (98.7%). Less than a quarter of applicants (22.8%; N=337) were from a top 25 school based on U.S. News & World Report rankings for primary care, surgery, or research. Average USMLE Step 1 score was 235 (SD 37) and Step 2 score was 250 (SD 29). Sex, race, ethnicity, and medical school ranking did not significantly impact performance on the SJT. There was no relationship between SJT score and USMLE scores and medical school rankings. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate the process of validity testing and importance of two specific sources of evidence–consequences and relations with other variables, in implementing future educational assessments.
AB - BACKGROUND: Situational judgment tests (SJT) are hypothetical but realistic scenario-based assessments that allow residency programs to measure judgment and decision-making among future trainees. A surgery-specific SJT was created to identify highly valued competencies among residency applicants. We aim to demonstrate a stepwise process for validation of this assessment for applicant screening through exploration of two often-overlooked sources of validity evidence – relations with other variables and consequences. METHODS: This was a prospective multi-institutional study involving 7 general surgery residency programs. All applicants completed the SurgSJT, a 32-item test aimed to measure 10 core competencies: adaptability, attention to detail, communication, dependability, feedback receptivity, integrity, professionalism, resilience, self-directed learning, and team orientation. Performance on the SJT was compared to application data, including race, ethnicity, gender, medical school, and USMLE scores. Medical school rankings were determined based on the 2022 U.S. News & World Report rankings. RESULTS: In total, 1491 applicants across seven residency programs were invited to complete the SJT. Of these, 1454 (97.5%) candidates completed the assessment. Applicants were predominantly White (57.5%), Asian (21.6%), Hispanic (9.7%), Black (7.3%), and 52% female. A total of 208 medical schools were represented, majority were allopathic (87.1%) and located in United States (98.7%). Less than a quarter of applicants (22.8%; N=337) were from a top 25 school based on U.S. News & World Report rankings for primary care, surgery, or research. Average USMLE Step 1 score was 235 (SD 37) and Step 2 score was 250 (SD 29). Sex, race, ethnicity, and medical school ranking did not significantly impact performance on the SJT. There was no relationship between SJT score and USMLE scores and medical school rankings. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate the process of validity testing and importance of two specific sources of evidence–consequences and relations with other variables, in implementing future educational assessments.
KW - Assessment
KW - Core Competencies
KW - Medical School Ranking
KW - Nontechnical Skills
KW - Situational Judgment Tests
KW - Validity
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jsurg.2023.05.024
DO - 10.1016/j.jsurg.2023.05.024
M3 - Article
C2 - 37365117
AN - SCOPUS:85163358835
SN - 1931-7204
VL - 80
SP - 1703
EP - 1710
JO - Journal of Surgical Education
JF - Journal of Surgical Education
IS - 11
ER -