Is it time to incorporate physics into the Dental Admissions Test?

Author(s):  
Rahul Tandon
Keyword(s):  
2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin Arneson ◽  
Shonna D. Waters ◽  
Paul R. Sackett

1981 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Wilson ◽  
Richard P. Suddick ◽  
Jeffrey S. Shay ◽  
Frank E. Hustmyer

For 20 dental students the relationships of field dependency, scores on the dental admissions test, grades in technique courses, and time and error scores on mirror-tracing tests were studied. Significant correlations (–.48, –.58, –.65) were found between field-dependency scores and scores on the perceptual-motor abilities subtest of the Dental Admissions Test and between mirror-tracing test and pre-clinical operative grades (–.53). These preliminary results indicate that study of the perceptual-cognitive styles of dental students is warranted to evaluate the potential utility of these measures in counseling and admissions. The mirror-tracing tests appear to have potential advantages as objective measures of psychomotor skills and learning ability.


AERA Open ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 233285841667060 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Koretz ◽  
Carol Yu ◽  
Preeya P. Mbekeani ◽  
Meredith Langi ◽  
Tasmin Dhaliwal ◽  
...  

2007 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elize Koch

The evaluation of monolingual admissions test used for admission to higher education in a plurilingual context. This study aims to critically evaluate the practice to use monolingual admissions tests across diverse language groups. The specific aim of the study was, accordingly, to evaluate the bias, across language groups, of a reading comprehension test used for admission to higher education. The subsequent aim was to decide about the scalar equivalence of the test across three language groups, namely Afrikaans and English students and students who are first language speakers of an African language. Item bias and structural differences between the English first and English second language groups were found, while structural differences continued to be found after deleting the DIF items from the test. Implications for fair admissions testing in the South African context are discussed. Opsomming: Hierdie stukkie het dit ten doel om die praktyk om eentalige toelatingstoetse oor taalgroepe heen te gebruik, krities te evalueer. Die oogmerk van die studie was gevolglik om ’n toets van leesbegrip wat vir toelating tot universiteit gebruik word en wat slegs in Engels beskikbaar is, te evalueer vir sydigheid. Die uiteindelike oogmerk was om oor die skaalekwivalensie van die toets ten opsigte van drie taalgroepe te besluit, naamlik Afrikaanse en Engelse studente en studente met ’n Afrika taal as eerste taal. Item sydigheid en strukturele verskille tussen Engels eerstetaal sprekers en Engels tweedetaal sprekers is gevind, terwyl strukturele verskille na die verwydering van die DIF items voorgeduur het. Implikasies vir billike toelatingstoetsing in Suid-Afrika word bespreek.


2012 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 325-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas B. Luckie ◽  
Jacob R. Aubry ◽  
Benjamin J. Marengo ◽  
Aaron M. Rivkin ◽  
Lindsey A. Foos ◽  
...  

In this study, we compared gains in student content learning over a 10-yr period in which the introductory biology laboratory curriculum was changed in two ways: an increase of inquiry and a reduction of content. Three laboratory formats were tested: traditional 1-wk-long cookbook laboratories, two 7-wk-long inquiry laboratories, and one 14-wk-long inquiry laboratory. As the level of inquiry increased, student learning gains on content exams trended upward even while traditional content coverage taught decreased. In a quantitative assessment of content knowledge, students who participated in the 14-wk-long inquiry laboratory format outscored their peers in both 7- and 1-wk-long lab formats on Medical College Admissions Test exam questions (scores of 64.73%, 61.97%, and 53.48%, respectively, P < 0.01). In a qualitative study of student opinions, surveys conducted at the end of semesters where traditional 1-wk laboratories ( n = 167 students) were used had low response rates and predominately negative opinions (only 20% of responses were positive), whereas those who participated in 7-wk ( n = 543) or 14-wk ( n = 308) inquiry laboratories had high response rates and 71% and 96% positive reviews, respectively. In an assessment of traditional content coverage in courses, three indexes were averaged to calculate traditional forms of coverage and showed a decrease by 44% over the study period. We believe that the quantitative and qualitative data support greater student-driven inquiry in the classroom laboratory, which leads to deeper learning in fewer topic areas (less teaching) and can reap gains in scientific thinking and fundamental understanding applicable to a broader range of topic areas (more learning) in introductory biology.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document