Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 19, 2026
05:21
Computerized Adaptive Testing System of Functional Assessment of Stroke
Published on: January 7, 2019
Perspective: Medical school admissions and noncognitive testing: some open questions
Charles L Bardes1, Peggy Carey Best, Sara J Kremer
1Weill Cornell Medical College, 525 East 68th Street, New York, NY 10021, USA. clbardes@med.cornell.edu
Summary
Standardized noncognitive testing for medical school admissions is proposed, but its validity, fairness, and cost require careful consideration. Open discussion among stakeholders is crucial before adoption to ensure reliable and equitable applicant assessment.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Admissions Processes
- Psychometrics
Background:
- Medical schools assess academic and personal qualities for aspiring physicians.
- Evaluating personal characteristics is challenging and debated.
- Standardized "noncognitive testing" is proposed for assessing these traits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the implications of implementing standardized noncognitive testing in medical school admissions.
- To highlight critical questions regarding the validity, fairness, and cost of such assessments.
- To emphasize the need for stakeholder discussion prior to adoption.
Main Methods:
- This study is a conceptual analysis and discussion of proposed testing methods.
- It reviews potential issues associated with noncognitive testing and test preparation services.
- It advocates for a deliberative process involving all relevant parties.
Main Results:
- Implementing noncognitive testing raises significant concerns about its reliability and fairness.
- The influence of commercial test preparation services on noncognitive test outcomes is a key issue.
- Current understanding is insufficient to warrant immediate adoption of these tests.
Conclusions:
- Widespread adoption of noncognitive testing for medical school admissions is premature.
- Further research and open dialogue are essential to address validity, fairness, and cost concerns.
- Informed discussion among stakeholders is critical before implementing new assessment strategies.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Reliability and Validity
Reliability and validity are two important considerations that must be made with any type of data collection. Reliability refers to the ability to consistently produce a given result. In the context of psychological research, this would mean that any instruments or tools used to collect data do so in consistent, reproducible ways.
02:20Correlations
Correlation means that there is a relationship between two or more variables (such as ice cream consumption and crime), but this relationship does not necessarily imply cause and effect. When two variables are correlated, it simply means that as one variable changes, so does the other. We can measure correlation by calculating a statistic known as a correlation coefficient. A correlation coefficient is a number from -1 to +1 that indicates the strength and direction of the relationship between...
01:23Assessment of the Cardiovascular System I: Subjective Data
A thorough health history and physical assessment are essential for identifying cardiovascular disease (CVD) symptoms and distinguishing them from other health issues.
Initial Enquiry
Ask the patient about their primary concern and thoroughly explore all reported symptoms.
Medical History
Investigate past illnesses affecting the cardiovascular system, such as angina, anemia, rheumatic fever, congenital heart disease, stroke, thrombophlebitis, dysrhythmias, varicosities
Inquire about symptoms...
Initial Enquiry
Ask the patient about their primary concern and thoroughly explore all reported symptoms.
Medical History
Investigate past illnesses affecting the cardiovascular system, such as angina, anemia, rheumatic fever, congenital heart disease, stroke, thrombophlebitis, dysrhythmias, varicosities
Inquire about symptoms...
01:24Revisionist Views of Adolescent and Adult Cognition
A revisionist approach to Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development has brought new insights that challenge and reinterpret his established ideas. Piaget proposed that the formal operational stage, emerging in adolescence, represents the culmination of cognitive maturity. During this stage, individuals are said to develop abstract thinking, engage in systematic problem-solving, and show a form of egocentrism, believing others are as preoccupied with their behavior as they are themselves.
01:22Self-Report Tests of Personality
Self-report inventories are objective personality assessments that use multiple-choice items or numbered scales, typically ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). They are often called Likert scales after Rensis Likert. These inventories are widely used due to their ease of administration and cost-effectiveness. One of the most prominent examples is the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), initially developed in the 1940s to assess abnormal personality traits.
02:16Surveys
Often, psychologists develop surveys as a means of gathering data. Surveys are lists of questions to be answered by research participants, and can be delivered as paper-and-pencil questionnaires, administered electronically, or conducted verbally. Generally, the survey itself can be completed in a short time, and the ease of administering a survey makes it easy to collect data from a large number of people.