Problems with assessment

How can I be sure I am making a fair assessment of my learner?

Rural physicians work very closely with their students or residents and generally rapidly form an accurate impression of the learner’s capabilities but occasionally biases can creep in and affect judgments. It’s worthwhile becoming aware of some common issues that may skew your assessment. “Triangulate” your assessment with colleagues, clinics and hospital staff and even patients.

Biases

Halo error

• Outstanding performance in one area, particularly early in the rotation, tends to blind observers to poorer performance in other domains.
• Similarly, it can be hard for a student to recover from a poor start.

Wave effect

• If everyone else has felt the learner is superior it can be difficult to give an unsatisfactory assessment. The student is “waved” through the rotation.

Hawk or Dove effect

• Be aware of your level on the raptor scale. Use the rating tools appropriately to give a fair grading.

Similarity / Dissimilarity bias

• Recognize something of yourself in the learner? Likely a good assessment will result. Likewise, it can be hard to give a high rating to someone with a very different practice style

Prejudices

• Accent, beards, gender, lip rings? Be aware of your prejudicial tendencies

For more about problems with assessment visit: In-training assessment

Problems with assessment When assessing learners Triangulate with colleagues and staff Are you a Hawk or a Dove? Beware the Halo effect