The views of medical faculty members about the use of alternative measurement and evaluation instruments

The aim of this study is to: determine the medical faculty members' views about the frequency of using alternative measurement and evaluation instruments, their competency levels and the perceived necessity to use them; reveal whether those scores differ significantly in terms of gender, academic title, department, measurement and evaluation seminars taken and universities; determine whether the level of perceived necessity and the perceived competency predict the level of their usage or not; compare the traditional methods with alternative ones in terms of the level of usage and perceived competency. In order to collect data, this study used general survey model as on of the quantitative models. Single and relational survey models were also employed based on the sub-problems. The population of this study was composed of medical faculty members in Duzce, Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal and Gaziosmanpaşa Universities in 2014-2015 academic year. The sample of the study involved a total of 211 participants, 70 from Düzce University, 69 from Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University and 72 from Gaziosmanpaşa University. The data were obtained through a questionnaire developed by the researcher. The data were collected directly by the author. The analyses were conducted by using a packet software. Statistical methods such as ANOVA, Kruskal Wallis, MANOVA, Multiple Linear Regression, Independent Samples t-test and Mann Whitney U were used. The results of the study are as follows: there were significant differences in the level of necessity and the frequency of usage in terms of gender; there were significant differences in the perceived competency and the frequency of usage in term of departments; there were significant differences in the perceived competency, attitude and the frequency of usage in terms of the measurement and evaluation seminars taken; there were significant differences in the perceived competency, attitude and the frequency of usage in terms of universities. Moreover, significant differences were determined in the frequency of usage and the perceived competency between alternative and traditional methods. Lastly, it was found that the perceived competency and attitude predicted the frequency of using the alternative measurement and evaluation instruments. As a result of the findings obtained in the study, the following aspects are recommended: measurement and evaluation course should take place in medical education programs; education or training about measurement and evaluation should be given to the educators; clinical and fundamental sciences should be integrated in the education process; the number of students per educator should be decreased; the courses should be conducted in accordance with the student-centered principles; departments of medical education and informatics should be extended through the universities.