A study used explored relationships among medical students' cognitive abilities, personality traits, and medical school performance at the University of California, Los Angeles. Results indicate it is not realistic to use one or two personality traits to predict personal suitability on all medical performance measures. Different personality…

A study investigated when medical students are at greatest risk of academic failure and which cognitive or noncognitive factors place them at risk. Subjects were 658 medical students matriculating at Wake Forest University (North Carolina) over five years. Results suggest the majority of academic delays occur in the first two years. Specific…

A study of 92 medical students found that critical thinking skills, as measured by the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal, were moderately predictive of academic success during the preclinical years of medical education. (Author/MSE)

A study found that interviewers of medical school applicants (n=471) were influenced in their ratings of applicants' noncognitive attributes by grade point average and Medical College Admission Test scores, when available, and by gender and race in accordance with affirmative action goals. Only moderate reliability across interviewers was found.…

A study of 175 Jefferson Medical College (Pennsylvania) students compared psychosocial characteristics with basic science examination grades, clinical examination grades, and ratings of clinical competence as performance measures. Results indicate the noncognitive psychosocial measures are significant and unique predictors of medical school…

Analysis of medical residents' clinical performances in five teaching hospital anesthesiology departments revealed that noncognitive performance in some areas was a powerful predictor of overall clinical performance and was related to the occurrence of critical incidents. Noncognitive predictors included conscientiousness, management, confidence,…

A study explored predictors of African-American and other nontraditional medical students' first-year academic performance at the Medical College of Georgia. Variables included undergraduate grades and grades in a summer prematriculation program (SPP) featuring biochemistry, anatomy, and immunology courses. SPP grades were found useful in…

A University of Washington study investigated predictors of performance for 205 students in a physical medicine and rehabilitation residency. Results show clinical residency performance was predicted by clerkship honors grades, probation predicted by failing a basic science course, written board performance related to status with a medical…

A study of 16 years of records of a general internal medicine faculty at a university hospital and its affiliated Veterans Administration medical center suggests the faculty involved in subspecialties and who have protected research time can improve their research productivity. (Author/MSE)

A study of records of 199 Barry University (Florida) premedical students found that their Scholastic Aptitude Test scores and grade point averages were statistically reliable predictors of Medical College Admission Test scores, but student status as minority or majority and as transfer or nontransfer student were very not statistically reliable…

A study compared the performance of 232 Brown University (Rhode Island) medical graduates on senior-year examinations in clinical skills examinations and during residencies, as evaluated by their residency directors. Results indicated a strong correlation between the two evaluations, suggesting that the performance-based undergraduate assessments,…

A study of 171 graduates of medical informatics training programs found that the status of the institution (public or private), trainee's entry degree, and productivity of program faculty were enough to correctly classify most of the students who chose academic vs. nonacademic careers in the field. (Author/MSE)

Research on effects of medical school curriculum on choice of careers in rural and underserved areas suggests medical students' pre-established interests are at least as predictive as curriculum. Most medical schools and residencies need extensive curriculum changes if students' careers are to be affected. Admissions offices can play a pivotal…

A study investigated the proportions of medical school graduates of the University of California at San Francisco entering personal care and technology-oriented specialties from 1982-1988. For the 1988 cohort, the importance of demographic, medical school, and postgraduate factors were also evaluated as predictors. (Author/MSE)

A study of 20 graduate medical students who received unfavorable evaluations and 20 who received the highest evaluations found little difference between the groups in medical school admission qualifications, overall academic achievement, or standardized test performance. Ratings appear to be the result of personal or motivational issues, not…