A factorial study of some psychological, vocational interest, and mental ability variables as predictors of success in dental school.

Abstract

A total of 32 mental ability, past-achievement, manual skill, personality, and vocational interest variables believed to be potentially useful in the selection of dental students were factor analyzed to determine their factor pattern in relation to the criterion variable, the dental GPA Then those variables which shared common factors with the criterion variable were used as independent variables in a multiple-repression equation for predictive purposes For the 72 dental juniors studied, it was found that there were 2 common factors between the "predictor" variables and the dental GPA 1 factor, decided to be academic aptitude, was significantly loaded in 4 "predictor" variables besides the dental GPA The other factor, related to manual skill, was significantly loaded m .) subtext 1 ; of a manual skill test and the dental GPA All but 1 of the 7 "predictor" variables were used in the predictive equation, 1 \aridblu being dropped because of its low, though statistically significant, factor loading Ol all the variables, the predental GPA was found to be the most important predictor of success in dental school.

Personality and Gender Influences on Faculty Ratings and Rankings of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency Applicants

“…5 This emphasis on the role of the interview is supported by Walker's 29 finding that interview ratings were correlated with clinical skill ratings among dental school applicants. However, other researchers have noted that academic variables such as grade point average and scores on standardized admissions tests are the best predictors of medical or dental school performance, 21,28 and Smith 23 failed to find differences among medical school applicants who were accepted with or without a preadmission interview.…”

“…Another set of issues concerns the feasibility of gathering accurate information about an applicant's personality during an on-site interview 18 and the utility of using interview data to predict important professional behaviors. Although earlier studies have reported significant correlations between interview data and dental school performance, [19][20] later studies have reported that subjective evaluations, including applicant interviews, did not predict future academic performance in dental school 21 or OMS residency programs. 22 Given the limited predictive value of applicant interviews, Smith 23 suggests that a review of application materials in the absence of conducting interviews is sufficient for selecting qualified applicants.…”

Assessing likelihood of using the Bruininks–Oseretsky test of motor proficiency to predict preclinical performance of dental students

“…However, it was controversial as a predictor of dental student performance (Chen, Podshadley, & Shrock, 1967;Fernandez-Pabon, 1968), so it was replaced by the Perceptual-motor Ability Test.…”

The Predictive Utility of Computer‐Simulated Exercises for Preclinical Technique Performance

“…The use of the Chalk Carving sub-test in predicting dental student performance was controversial among dental researchers. [6][7][8][9] Chen et al, in their factorial investigation, concluded that the Chalk Carving test was not a measure of "digital dexterity" and had little value in the prediction equation of performance. 6 Fernandez-Pabon supported this conclusion.…”

“…[6][7][8][9] Chen et al, in their factorial investigation, concluded that the Chalk Carving test was not a measure of "digital dexterity" and had little value in the prediction equation of performance. 6 Fernandez-Pabon supported this conclusion. 7 Zullo, in his investigation of perceptual and motor abilities in dental students, confirmed the construct validity of the Chalk Carving test-that is, its capability in measuring a "small instrument dexterity factor."…”