Biomaterial Database

Evaluation of predictor variables for a self-instructional preclinical course. 1979

A Y Wong, and J F Watson, and R P Thye

Several studies have shown that the Dental Admission Test and predental grade point average have validity in predicting performance in dental school. The purpose of this two-year study is to compare these predictors with a manual skill exercise to determine their usefulness in predicting manual dexterity success in operative dentistry. Sophomore students were instructed to make preparations on an Ivorine block following imprinted outlines. Correlation to performance on laboratory examinations was computed. Results indicate the traditional predictors have limited usefulness in manual skill prediction while the Ivorine block exercise demonstrated consistent correlation over both years. The emphasis on manual dexterity in preclinical dental courses requires that appropriate variables be used in selecting students.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009048	Motor Skills	Performance of complex motor acts.	Motor Skill,Skill, Motor,Skills, Motor
D011336	Probability	The study of chance processes or the relative frequency characterizing a chance process.	Probabilities
D004497	Education, Dental	Use for articles concerning dental education in general.	Dental Education
D004521	Educational Measurement	The assessing of academic or educational achievement. It includes all aspects of testing and test construction.	Assessment, Educational,Graduate Records Examination,Educational Assessment,Examination, Graduate Records,Measurement, Educational,Assessments, Educational,Educational Assessments,Educational Measurements,Examinations, Graduate Records,Graduate Records Examinations,Measurements, Educational
D005069	Evaluation Studies as Topic	Works about studies that determine the effectiveness or value of processes, personnel, and equipment, or the material on conducting such studies.	Critique,Evaluation Indexes,Evaluation Methodology,Evaluation Report,Evaluation Research,Methodology, Evaluation,Pre-Post Tests,Qualitative Evaluation,Quantitative Evaluation,Theoretical Effectiveness,Use-Effectiveness,Critiques,Effectiveness, Theoretical,Evaluation Methodologies,Evaluation Reports,Evaluation, Qualitative,Evaluation, Quantitative,Evaluations, Qualitative,Evaluations, Quantitative,Indexes, Evaluation,Methodologies, Evaluation,Pre Post Tests,Pre-Post Test,Qualitative Evaluations,Quantitative Evaluations,Report, Evaluation,Reports, Evaluation,Research, Evaluation,Test, Pre-Post,Tests, Pre-Post,Use Effectiveness
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000124	Achievement	Success in bringing an effort to the desired end; the degree or level of success attained in some specified area (esp. scholastic) or in general.	Accomplishment,Accomplishments,Achievements
D001077	Aptitude Tests	Primarily non-verbal tests designed to predict an individual's future learning ability or performance.	Aptitude Test,Test, Aptitude,Tests, Aptitude
D013663	Teaching	A formal and organized process of transmitting knowledge to a person or group.	Teaching Method,Training Activity,Training Technique,Academic Training,Educational Technics,Educational Techniques,Pedagogy,Teaching Methods,Technics, Educational,Techniques, Educational,Training Activities,Training Technics,Training Techniques,Activities, Training,Activity, Training,Educational Technic,Educational Technique,Method, Teaching,Methods, Teaching,Pedagogies,Technic, Educational,Technic, Training,Technics, Training,Technique, Educational,Technique, Training,Techniques, Training,Training Technic,Training, Academic