The effects of testing in shifts on a clinical in-course computerized exam.
OBJECTIVE
Testing a large medical class over two days with a single-form computer-based test has generated questions related to test security and the influence of unequal test preparation times afforded by the testing method.


METHODS
An analysis of variance (anova) design was used to compare the scores for the two days for each of the three tests. In addition, a within-student match-paired t-test of standard score differences was used to examine the relative standing of students across tests administered on different days.


RESULTS
Both the anova and the match-paired t-test failed to detect a difference between first and second day testing.


CONCLUSIONS
This research suggests that using a single test form with shift-based computerised assessments, spread over as many as two days, does not seriously compromise the integrity of the results. Since creating multiple unique-item forms is often not possible, shift-based testing with a single test form appears to be a fair method of accommodating a large number of students.
Kreiter
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Department of Family Medicine and Office of Consultation and Research in Medical Education, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. clarence-keiter@uiowa.edu
Peterson
M W
MW
Ferguson
K
K
Elliott
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S
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D016494:Computer Security; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000592:standards*; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D015203:Reproducibility of Results