Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29724213›Full record

ArticleBMC medical education2018

The ability of 'non-cognitive' traits to predict undergraduate performance in medical schools: a national linkage study.

Gabrielle M Finn, Lazaro Mwandigha, Lewis W Paton, Paul A Tiffin

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC medical education, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
1.4field-weighted citation impact, top 18% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 21 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Gabrielle M FinnHull York Medical School, University of York, Heslington, York, North Yorkshire, YO10 5DD, UK. Gabrielle.Finn@hyms.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0419-694X
Lazaro MwandighaHealth Sciences, University of York, York, UK.
Lewis W PatonHealth Sciences, University of York, York, UK.
Paul A TiffinHealth Sciences, University of York, York, UK.
University of York · GB

Funding

Department of Health CDF-2015-08-011
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIn addition to the evaluation of educational attainment and intellectual ability there has been interest in the potential to select medical school applicants on non-academic qualities. Consequently, a battery of self-report measures concerned with assessing 'non-cognitive' traits was piloted as part of the UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT) administration to evaluate their potential to be used in selection.

methodsThe four non-cognitive instruments piloted were: 1) the Libertarian-communitarian scale, (2) The NACE (narcissism, aloofness, confidence and empathy, (3) the MEARS (Managing emotions and resilience scale; self-esteem, optimism, control, self-discipline, emotional-nondefensiveness and faking, and (4) an abridged version of instruments (1) and (2) combined. Non-cognitive scores and sociodemographic characteristics were available for 14,387 applicants. A series of univariable and multivariable analyses were conducted in order to assess the ability of the non-cognitive scores to predict knowledge and skills-based performance, as well as the odds of passing each academic year at first attempt. Non-cognitive scores and medical performance were standardised within cohorts.

resultsThe scores on the non-cognitive scales showed only very small (magnitude of standardised betas< 0.2), though sometimes statistically significant (p < 0.01) univariable associations with subsequent performance on knowledge or skills-based assessments. The only statistically significant association between the non-cognitive scores and the probability of passing an academic year at first attempt was the narcissism score from one the abridged tests (OR 0.84,95% confidence intervals 0.71 to 0.97, p = 0.02).

conclusionsOur findings are consistent with previously published research. The tests had a very limited ability to predict undergraduate academic performance, though further research on identifying narcissism in medical students may be warranted. However, the validity of such self-report tools in high-stakes settings may be affected, making such instruments unlikely to add value within the selection process.

Indexed as

Academic PerformanceAptitude TestsEducation, Medical, UndergraduateSchool Admission CriteriaSchools, MedicalEducational MeasurementFemaleHumansMaleNarcissismPilot ProjectsPsychoanalytic TheoryReproducibility of ResultsStudents, MedicalUnited KingdomYoung AdultConscientiousnessMedical studentsPersonalitySelectionUKCATUndergraduate

Identifiers

PMID29724213
PMCPMC5934850
OpenAlexW2802433029

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.