Medical Students’ Ability to Self Assess Knowledge and Skill Levels: Findings from One Class of Seniors

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between knowledge/skill level and self-assessment by correlating medical students' performance on a comprehensive clinical assessment with their self-assessemtn of their performance. In July 1995 165 medical students were given a clinical assessment examination after finishing their required clerkships. After completing the exam, each student was asked to rate their performance ranging from 'extremely well'(5) to 'extrelmely poorly' (1) in each station. The correlation of 10 station scores and 10 self-ratings was determined for each student. The correlations were computed within student rather than across students to retain individual information that coudl identify accurate and inaccurate self-assessors. The individual correlations varied tremendously amongt the medical students, ranging form -.49 to .94. For the class, there was poor correlation (r=.34) between actual perforamnce and self-assessments of performance. There was no difference in the average correlations between men and women, nor between high scorers and low scorers. Third-year medical students are poor self-assessors of performance.