The F Word: How “Fit” Threatens the Validity of Resident Recruitment

The Case for Capping Residency Interviews

“…The use of “tokens” would enable applicants to be able to convey interest to a set number of programs; this has been well-described in graduate PhD economics education literature. 33 It will be imperative for “fit” to not become a proxy for decisions guided by unconscious bias, 34 but instead, for principles of equity and inclusion to guide change during this time of accelerated change.…”

“Fit” Has a Broader Meaning: Recognizing the Utility of Person–Environment Fit Theory in Residency Recruitment and Selection

“…read the article entitled ''The F Word: How 'Fit' Threatens the Validity of Resident Recruitment'' with great interest. 1 Notably, the authors present ''fit'' as a nebulous term that is used to convey a gestalt impression, conceivably serving as a proxy for unconscious bias and a threat to diversity. To mitigate these risks, they propose that terms, such as ''fit,'' must have a clear and shared meaning.…”

“…To mitigate these risks, they propose that terms, such as ''fit,'' must have a clear and shared meaning. 1 Fortunately, to meet the challenge of this recommendation, we can diversify our own perspectives by incorporating well-established concepts from industrial and organizational (I/O) psychology. 2 I/O psychology is a recognized division of the American Psychological Association and is characterized by the scientific study of human behavior in organizations.…”

“…3 In their box, Shappell and Schnapp suggested that residency programs establish a clear brand identity, which includes clarifying values and goals. 1 Then, if fostering self-starters is considered meaningful to the program, they can decide to preferentially rank applicants who have demonstrated an ability to create and develop new initiatives. Furthermore, Shappell and Schnapp proposed that when ''fit creeps into the discussion'' that the conversation be directed away from this word.…”

“…Furthermore, Shappell and Schnapp proposed that when ''fit creeps into the discussion'' that the conversation be directed away from this word. 1 However, instead of being fearful of this terminology, we should consider embracing it based on a broader understanding of its meaning. A different approach could be taken, in which a member of the selection committee states, ''Based on the work we have done to identify our residency program's core values and goals, I believe that this applicant aligns better from the perspective of person-organization fit compared to this applicant.''…”