2008
DOI: 10.1007/s10459-008-9111-9
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Oral assessment and postgraduate medical examinations: establishing conditions for validity, reliability and fairness

Abstract: The purpose of this review was to examine the practice of oral assessment in postgraduate medical education in the context of the core assessment constructs of validity, reliability and fairness. Although oral assessment has a long history in the certification process of medical specialists and is a well-established part of such proceedings for a wide range of specialties in most countries, there remains concern regarding its use. Therefore, there has been some move away from oral assessment for postgraduate m… Show more

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Cited by 55 publications
(61 citation statements)
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“…[10] Flexibility in moving from one area to another during the examination is cited as an added advantage of oral exams. [11] Usefulness of oral exams Kehm' s review of the literature highlights potential challenges when using oral vivas as socio-physiological (unequal power distance between the candidate and the assessors), psycho-analytical (ritual aspects of the process), sociological (differences in cultural and social norms affecting oral performance), and methodological issues of measurement (low degree of objectivity, reliability, and validity). [12] The use of oral examinations in high-stakes assessment systems has also been criticized for many years because of poor inter rater reliability.…”
Section: Effectiveness Of Oral Examsmentioning
confidence: 99%
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“…[10] Flexibility in moving from one area to another during the examination is cited as an added advantage of oral exams. [11] Usefulness of oral exams Kehm' s review of the literature highlights potential challenges when using oral vivas as socio-physiological (unequal power distance between the candidate and the assessors), psycho-analytical (ritual aspects of the process), sociological (differences in cultural and social norms affecting oral performance), and methodological issues of measurement (low degree of objectivity, reliability, and validity). [12] The use of oral examinations in high-stakes assessment systems has also been criticized for many years because of poor inter rater reliability.…”
Section: Effectiveness Of Oral Examsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…The reasons for low reliability also have an adverse impact on validity because of the potential for variation in content matter addressed, and in the emphasis given to different content areas. [11] Oral examinations are usually employed in an attempt to assess the candidate' s knowledge of a subject. Memon and his colleagues pointed out that viva marks correlated with personality scores.…”
Section: Effectiveness Of Oral Examsmentioning
confidence: 99%
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“…This finding is consistent with other postgraduate assessment across all specialties. 16 While to an extent it may not be surprising that such a doctor might be unfamiliar with British culture, medical practices, and the peculiarities of the NHS, it is incumbent on those delivering such assessments to prove that they remain truly equitable and unbiased.…”
Section: How Might Selection Be Improved?mentioning
confidence: 99%
“…The strengths of oral assessment include the ability to probe the depth of knowledge, to test clinical decision-making skills and to recognise safe and competent clinicians 17. However, oral assessments have been criticised as being unreliable, invalid, biased and open to challenge 18 19. There are concerns that personality,20 verbal style and appearance21 22 influence assessment scores and thus challenge validity.…”
Section: The New Assessment Of Readiness For Consultant Practicementioning
confidence: 99%