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The Objective Structured Clinical Examination and student collusion: marks do not tell the whole truth
R Parks1, P M Warren, K M Boyd
1Chancellors Building, Little France, Edinburgh, UK.
Journal of Medical Ethics
|December 6, 2006
Summary
Student collusion in Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE) did not significantly impact overall marks. Examination scores may not reliably detect collusion and can obscure professional development issues.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Assessment and Evaluation
Background:
- Student collusion in Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE) is a concern for academic integrity.
- Allegations of collusion were raised by students on an electronic discussion board.
- The impact of such collusion on OSCE performance requires investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if student collusion affected marks in the third-year OSCE.
- To assess the reliability of OSCE marks in detecting collusion.
Main Methods:
- Review of student discussion board comments and examiner feedback.
- Comparison of OSCE marks obtained over two days by 255 third-year medical students.
- Analysis of performance across 15 stations at three sites.
Main Results:
- Forty students discussed perceived inequities and lack of professionalism related to prior knowledge of station content.
- No significant difference was found in overall OSCE marks between the two days (p = 0.16).
- A specific pathology subsection showed 82 students incorrectly giving a prior day's diagnosis, indicating a potential collusion effect.
Conclusions:
- Overall OSCE marks may not be a reliable indicator of student collusion.
- Collusion can potentially mask issues in student professional development.
- Further methods are needed to accurately assess and address collusion in medical examinations.
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