Article # 10
Accuracy of Self-Assessment Compared to Objective Performance in Written Anatomy Examinations
Abstract
Article # 10
Accuracy of Self-Assessment Compared to Objective Performance in Written Anatomy Examinations
Authors :
Rebecca Stoner , Edward Caruana , Isabel Stabile
Keywords :
Anatomy , self-assessment , objective performance , accuracy
Institution :
Rebecca Stoner North West London University
Edward Caruana Glenfield Hospital , Leicester
Isabel Stabile University of Malta
Corresponding Author Contact Information :
Isabel Stabile University of Malta Highest Qualification : FRCOG ., Ph . D . Telephone : + 356 99335044 Email : Isabel . stabile @ um . edu . mt
DOI : https :// doi . org / 10.21252 / skv0-mb90
Abstract
AIM
To evaluate the ability of medical students to accurately predict their performance in written anatomy tests .
Methods : In part 1 , 189 Year 1 to 4 students answered 100 best-of-four multiple-choice anatomy questions under examination conditions . In part 2 , 58 Year 2 students answered 100 questions of different styles . Immediately after both tests , students estimated their marks . Unpaired t test , ANOVA and Pearson coefficient were used for statistical analysis .
RESULTS
Overall , students underestimated their performance by 16.2 ± 15.2 % ( mean ± SD ), with no improvement in accuracy noted along the years ( p = 0.7560 ). Although there was no significant difference in the mean overall score obtained by gender , females underrated their performance significantly more than males ( 19.1 ± 13.9 % vs 12.8 ± 16.0 %, p = 0.0048 ). Students from other EU counties underestimated their performance significantly more than Maltese students . A weak-to-moderate uphill correlation was noted between improved performance and degree of underestimation ( Pearson ' s r = 0.38 , 95 % CI 0.13 to 0.58 , p = 0.0033 ). No difference was found in students ' ability to predict their mark in relation to the question type they considered hardest .
DISCUSSION
Underestimation was significantly greater in female students and non-Maltese students from other EU countries , suggesting a lack of confidence disproportionate to their ability . No question type allowed students to better estimate marks , suggesting that accuracy may depend more on examtaking skills .
CONCLUSIONS
Targeted training of self-evaluation skills should be included in the medical curriculum and beyond .