CASPer

CASPer Test, which stands for Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics, is an admissions test developed by researchers at McMaster University Medical School in 2010.[1][2][3] The test is a form of situational judgement test and claimed to test a candidate's personal and non-cognitive attributes in an online format prior to the interview. The test has been in use at McMaster University Medical School since 2010.[2][3] It was piloted by Northern Ontario School of Medicine in 2014 for one year and was discontinued after one application cycle. In 2015 the test was adopted by three medical schools: the University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and New York Medical College.[2][3] In 2015, the test was also adopted by the nursing schools at McMaster University, York University, Mohawk College and Conestoga College. In 2016, it was also adopted by Tulane University School of Medicine, East Tennessee State University and Central Michigan University's Schools of Medicine.

CASPer is now delivered by a for-profit Canadian corporation, Altus Assessments Inc.,[4] which is partly owned by McMaster University, as a minority shareholder and the authors of the original publication.[4][5][6][7][8] In the only publication on CASPer, originally called "CMSENS",[5] the authors conclude "It is important to note that predictive validity has not been completely established." and that "more investigation remains".[5]

Altus Assessments Inc., charges anywhere from $20 USD to $60 CAD, per student, to take the test.[8]

To date, no independent peer-reviewed publication has validated the efficacy of CASPer and given the conflict of interest by the original authors[4][6][7] and McMaster University,[4][6][7] claims of validity and predictability from these sources must be viewed with caution until further independent research is conducted.

Medical Schools

Medical schools currently using CASPer:

Nursing Schools

Nursing schools currently using CASPer:

Optometry Schools

Optometry schools currently using CASPer:

Format

The test, which is a form of situational judgement test, has 12 sections that either consist of video-based scenarios or word-based scenarios, based on real life situations.[8] Video based scenarios consist of a short video followed by a series of 3 open ended follow-up questions. Word based scenarios consist of a paragraph describing a scenario followed by a series of 3 open ended follow up questions. Candidates have 5 minutes to answer these 3 questions. In video based scenarios, the video cannot be replayed.[8]

Controversy

The CASPer test includes scenarios that are not culturally sensitive and lack diversity. Many of the questions do not take into consideration the test taker's upbringing or cultural background, and may preclude minority applicants to medical schools from achieving scores that reflect sound situational judgement.

References

  1. ↑ "Brains alone won't get you into McMaster medical school". The Globe And Mail. The Globe And Mail. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 "BeMo's Guide To CASPer Preparation". CASPer Test Prep. BeMo Academic Consulting Inc. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 "Astroff Consultants". Astroff Consultants. Astroff Consultants. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Corporations Canada Directory: Altus Assessments Inc.".
  5. 1 2 3 Dore, Kelly (October 2009). "Extending the interview to all medical school candidates--Computer-Based Multiple Sample Evaluation of Noncognitive Skills (CMSENS).". Academic Medicine. doi:10.1097/ACM.0b013e3181b3705a. PMID 19907396.
  6. 1 2 3 "McMaster University Faculty Directory: Harold Reiter, Director, Program for Educational Research and Development (PERD)".
  7. 1 2 3 "McMaster University Faculty Directory: Kelly Dore, Senior Scientist in the Program for Educational Research".
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Altus Assessments Inc. - About CASPer". Altus Assessments. Altus Assessments. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
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