CASPer

CASPer (Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics), is an admissions test developed by Harold Reiter[1] and Kelly Dore[2] at McMaster University's Program for Educational Research and Development (PERD) and used by the McMaster University Medical School since 2010.[3][4][5] The test was developed to assess an academic applicant's personal and professional (also known as non-cognitive or non-academic) attributes in an online format in the pre-screening stage of the application process.

While descriptions of the test have been described in peer-reviewed journals, it has also been criticized.

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.[6] Video-based scenarios consist of a short video followed by a series of three open-ended follow-up questions. Word-based scenarios consist of a paragraph describing a scenario followed by a series of three open-ended follow-up questions. Candidates have five minutes to answer these three questions. In video-based scenarios, the video cannot be replayed.[6]

Although fees vary by program and country, the CASPer cost consists of a base fee ($10–40), plus a distribution fee for each school that results are sent to ($10).[6] Results are valid for one application cycle only.

Scientific validity

Two primary peer-reviewed papers are published covering the structure and efficacy of CASPer. The original paper, published in Academic Medicine, references the original name of CASPer as "CMSENS".[7] The second primary peer-reviewed paper is published in Advances in Health Science Education, and covers the structure, reliability and predictive validity found for the test.[8]

Braden MacBeth criticised CASPer on Science-Based Medicine for lack of transparency, flawed studies and a conflict of interest. MacBeth concludes "CASPer should not be incorporated into the medical school admissions process".[9]

History

CASPer was piloted by Northern Ontario School of Medicine in the 2014 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.[4][5] 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.

References
  1. "Harold Reiter". Fhs.mcmaster.ca. Retrieved 2017-01-27.
  2. "McMaster University Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact >> Kelly Dore". Fhs.mcmaster.ca. Retrieved 2017-01-27.
  3. "Brains alone won't get you into McMaster medical school". The Globe And Mail. The Globe And Mail. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
  4. "BeMo's Guide To CASPer Preparation". CASPer Test Prep. BeMo Academic Consulting Inc. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  5. "Astroff Consultants". Astroff Consultants. Astroff Consultants. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
  6. "Altus Assessments Inc. - About CASPer". Altus Assessments. Altus Assessments. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
  7. Dore, Kelly (October 2009). "Extending the interview to all medical school candidates--Computer-Based Multiple Sample Evaluation of Noncognitive Skills (CMSENS)". Academic Medicine. 84 (10 Suppl): S9–12. doi:10.1097/ACM.0b013e3181b3705a. PMID 19907396.
  8. Dore, Kelly L. (2017). "CASPer, an online pre-interview screen for personal/professional characteristics: prediction of national licensure scores | SpringerLink". Advances in Health Sciences Education. 22 (2): 327–336. doi:10.1007/s10459-016-9739-9. PMID 27873137.
  9. MacBeth, Bradon (2021-01-29). "Ad-Conned: A Critical Look At CASPer". Science-Based Medicine. Retrieved 2021-01-29.
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