Association Between Behavioral Style and Performance in a Self-Paced Assessment Program

• In Event: 44.068 - How Test Takers Prepare for and Take Professional Licensure and Certification Examinations

Abstract

A longitudinal assessment program was launched by a medical board in 2016 as one of its continuing certification requirements. This study explored distinct behavioral patterns in answering self-testing questions using data collected in the first two quarters of 2016. The time at which a physician accessed each question was used as the primary measure of behavior. Four groups that exhibited distinct behavioral styles were identified using k-means cluster analysis. Procrastination behaviors were associated with lower performance (as measured by percent of questions answered correctly) when age and gender were adjusted. These findings have practical implications for future design and modification of such assessment programs.

Authors

• Yan Zhou, The American Board of Anesthesiology 

• Huaping Sun, The American Board of Anesthesiology

• Ann Elizabeth Harman, American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA)