Evaluating student performance in clinical dietetics

The focus of this study was on the development and field-testing of a set of behaviorally anchored rating scales for evaluating the clinical performance of dietetic students. The scales emphasized the application of skills and knowledge. A variation of the Smith-Kendall technique was used to develop the scales. The 42 participants involved in instrument development included dietetic students, didactic and clinical instructors, and dietetic practitioners. The completed instrument contained 8 dimension statements and 70 behavioral anchors. The instrument was field-tested in 16 clinical rotations within 8 dietetic education programs. Evaluators not only rated student performance but also critiqued the format and content of the scales. The mid-to-upper portions of each scale were used most frequently, and little score variation within or across programs was noted. The scales were deemed appropriate for formative evaluation; however, some evaluators who had to grade students' performance expressed a desire for performance standards defined in terms of grades. Because the process used to develop the instrument facilitated the articulation of performance criteria, it is recommended as a practical approach to setting performance standards.