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ERIC Number: EJ1025275
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013
Pages: 5
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1935-9772
EISSN: N/A
Equivalence of Students' Scores on Timed and Untimed Anatomy Practical Examinations
Zhang, Guiyun; Fenderson, Bruce A.; Schmidt, Richard R.; Veloski, J. Jon
Anatomical Sciences Education, v6 n5 p281-285 Sep-Oct 2013
Untimed examinations are popular with students because there is a perception that first impressions may be incorrect, and that difficult questions require more time for reflection. In this report, we tested the hypothesis that timed anatomy practical examinations are inherently more difficult than untimed examinations. Students in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Thomas Jefferson University were assessed on their understanding of anatomic relationships using multiple-choice questions. For the class of 2012 ("n"?=?46), students were allowed to circulate freely among 40 testing stations during the 40-minute testing session. For the class of 2013 ("n"?=?46), students were required to move sequentially through the 40 testing stations (one minute per item). Students in both years were given three practical examinations covering the back/upper limb, lower limb, and trunk. An identical set of questions was used for both groups of students (untimed and timed examinations). Our results indicate that there is no significant difference between student performance on untimed and timed examinations (final percent scores of 87.3 and 88.9, respectively). This result also held true for students in the top and bottom 20th percentiles of the class. Moreover, time limits did not lead to errors on even the most difficult, higher-order questions (i.e., items with "P"-values?<?0.70). Thus, limiting time at testing stations during an anatomy practical examination does not adversely affect student performance.
Wiley-Blackwell. 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148. Tel: 800-835-6770; Tel: 781-388-8598; Fax: 781-388-8232; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: http://www.asejournal.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Pennsylvania
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A