Evaluation of the Dunning-Kruger Effects among Dental Students at an Academic Training Institution in UAE

The Dunning-Kruger effect (cognitive bias) is a psychological phenomenon that implies that individuals with a lack of knowledge and skills have an unrealistically optimistic image of their abilities compared to others.

The study aimed to examine the presence of the Dunning-Kruger effect in fifth (final) year dental undergraduate students at Gulf Medical University, UAE, in clinical domains related to pediatric dentistry.

A longitudinal cohort study was conducted at Gulf Medical University, College of Dentistry, to evaluate cognitive bias among 5th-year dental students at GMU in the competency domains of communication, diagnosis, and clinical skills in Pediatric dentistry.

Overall, compared to the level of confidence of students in September, there was a decline in the level of confidence in January. With an increase in time, the percentage shifted to a higher level in May across all domains.

Characteristic patterns of fluctuations in students' self-confidence during clinical exposure are observed. The research results prove that the Dunning-Kruger effect, the cognitive bias of the perception pattern, is present in the examined group of dental students.