title: Quantifying error in OSCE standard setting for varying cohort sizes: A resampling approach to measuring assessment quality.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of the borderline regression method (BRM) is a widely accepted standard setting method for OSCEs. However, it is unclear whether this method is appropriate for use with small cohorts (e.g. specialist post-graduate examinations).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This work uses an innovative application of resampling methods applied to four pre-existing OSCE data sets (number of stations between 17 and 21) from two institutions to investigate how the robustness of the BRM changes as the cohort size varies. Using a variety of metrics, the 'quality' of an OSCE is evaluated for cohorts of approximately n = 300 down to n = 15. Estimates of the standard error in station-level and overall pass marks, R(2) coefficient, and Cronbach's alpha are all calculated as cohort size varies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For larger cohorts (n > 200), the standard error in the overall pass mark is small (less than 0.5%), and for individual stations is of the order of 1-2%. These errors grow as the sample size reduces, with cohorts of less than 50 candidates showing unacceptably large standard error. Alpha and R(2) also become unstable for small cohorts. The resampling methodology is shown to be robust and has the potential to be more widely applied in standard setting and medical assessment quality assurance and research.
authors.affiliation: a University of Leeds , UK .
authors.forename: Matt
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Homer
authors.affiliation: a University of Leeds , UK .
authors.forename: Godfrey
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pell
authors.affiliation: a University of Leeds , UK .
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fuller
authors.affiliation: b Queen Mary University of London , UK.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Patterson
mesh_terms: D015982:Bias; D015331:Cohort Studies; D007388:Internal Medicine / Q000193:education*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018401:Sample Size