Weekly quizzes in extended-matching format as a means of monitoring students' progress in gross anatomy.
We compared weekly quizzes in extended-matching format with multiple-choice questions and oral examinations as means of monitoring students' progress in gross anatomy. Students' performance on 19 weekly oral examinations or 10-question quizzes based on extended-matching or multiple-choice formats were correlated with their success on 3 interim examinations and the final comprehensive examination. The Kuder-Richardson formula 20, an estimate of precision of the test, was 0.64 for extended-matching quizzes. Students' performance on interim examinations did not differ significantly. There was a significant correlation between students' mean scores on weekly quizzes and mean scores on interim examinations in both the extended-matching (r = 0.516) and multiple-choice group (r = 0.823). The mean grades (ranging from 2 to 5) on the final exam, based on understanding of anatomical concepts and their application in clinical practice, were significantly higher in extended-matching group (4.8) than in the multiple-choice (4.1) and orally examined groups (3.9) (p < 0.05). We conclude that extended-matching quizzes were at least as effective as multiple-choice quizzes and oral examinations and may be better for acquiring synthetic understanding of anatomical concepts especially in combination with other means of knowledge assessment. We recommend them as a reliable and objective means of monitoring students' performance during a gross anatomy course.
Lukić
I K
IK
Department of Anatomy, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, Zagreb, Croatia. iklukic@mef.hr
Gluncić
V
V
Katavić
V
V
Petanjek
Z
Z
Jalsovec
D
D
Marusić
A
A
D000715:Anatomy / Q000193:education*; D000818:Animals; D004521:Educational Measurement; D006801:Humans; D013334:Students; D014730:Veterinary Medicine