Evaluation of missing data in an assessment of professional behaviors.
BACKGROUND
The National Board of Medical Examiners is currently developing the Assessment of Professional Behaviors, a multisource feedback (MSF) tool intended for formative use with medical students and residents. This study investigated whether missing responses on this tool can be considered random; evidence that missing values are not random would suggest response bias, a significant threat to score validity.


METHODS
Correlational analyses of pilot data (N = 2,149) investigated whether missing values were systematically related to global evaluations of observees.


RESULTS
The percentage of missing items was correlated with global evaluations of observees; observers answered more items for preferred observees compared with nonpreferred observees.


CONCLUSIONS
Missing responses on this MSF tool seem to be nonrandom and are instead systematically related to global perceptions of observees. Further research is needed to determine whether modifications to the items, the instructions, or other components of the assessment process can reduce this effect.
Mazor
Kathleen
K
MPCI 630 Plantation St., Worcester MA, 01605, USA. Kathleen.Mazor@umassmed.edu
Clauser
Brian E
BE
Holtman
Matthew
M
Margolis
Melissa J
MJ
D001519:Behavior; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D003625:Data Collection / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004501:Education, Medical; D006801:Humans; D015588:Observer Variation; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013337:Students, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires