Students' perceptions of the Script Concordance Test and its impact on their learning behavior: a mixed methods study

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Education
• Clinical Assessment
• Medical Education

Background:

• The Script Concordance Test (SCT) is a validated assessment tool in postgraduate and undergraduate medical education.
• Its application in veterinary education, particularly for formative assessment and learning enhancement, is less explored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate veterinary students' perceptions of the SCT.
• To evaluate the SCT's effect on students' learning approaches in veterinary medicine.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods study involving final-year veterinary undergraduates at the University of Nottingham.
• Included formative SCT assessments, qualitative focus group discussions, and a quantitative survey.

Main Results:

• Students found clinical experience most valuable for SCT. Recall of facts was less useful for SCT compared to multiple-choice questions.
• Qualitative themes included reliability, acceptability, educational impact, and validity of the SCT.
• The SCT demonstrated high face validity, encouraging reflection on clinical experience and deeper learning.

Conclusions:

• The SCT is perceived positively by veterinary students, with high face validity.
• It effectively promotes reflection on clinical experience and case-based discussions.
• The SCT shows potential as a valuable tool for assessing clinical reasoning and improving veterinary student learning.