A new admission method may select applicants with a distinct personality profile

Abstract

Background: There is little data to suggest that a specific admission method can select students with a distinct personality profile. We have recently introduced a new admission process that combines a computerized personality test, with a single interview. The purpose of the current study was to find whether the new method selects applicants with a different personality profile and attitudes compared with the previous method.

Method: Using a validated personality questionnaire (HEXACO) and attitudes questionnair, that were filled anonymously between November 2014 and May 2015, the authors compared two groups of students: group A comprising students accepted with the new method (first and second year) with group B comprising students accepted with the previous method (third to sixth year).

Results: In group A, 157 responded out of 250 (63%), while in group B 194 out of 352 (55%). Group A students ranked significantly higher in honesty-humility, extraversion, agreeableness and openness to experience, and lower in emotionality. Physicians’ role in society was perceived to be more meaningful among Group A students (M = 4.19, SD = 0.50, N = 152) compared to Group B students (M = 3.86, SD = 0.57, N = 184).

Conclusions: The new method may select applicants with a distinct personality profile and different attitudes toward the physicians' role in the society.

Ethical approval

The study was approved by Bun-Gurion University Ethical Review Board.

Disclaimer

One of the authors (A.F) is employed as a Chief Psychometrician in Til Psychological Assessment Solutions.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Glossary

Personality questionnaires: A common tool in psychology research and practice, designed to identify certain personality traits such as neuroticism and agreeableness. Personality questionnaires are usually based on multiple questions with Likert-style answer format. The most widely accepted model for personality assessment is the “five-factor model,” which characterizes human personality along five core dimensions: extraversion, neuroticism, conscientiousness, agreeableness, and openness to experience. Personality questionnaires are increasingly used for the purpose of evaluating job applicants and candidates for academic studies, including medical schools, as complementary tools to cognitive ability assessment.

Ones, D. S., Dilchert, S., Viswesvaran, C., and Judge, T. A. (2007). In support of personality assessment in organizational settings. Pers psychol. 60;995–1027.

Notes on contributors

Dr. Aya G. Talmor, MD, is a senior physician in Internal Medicine.

Amir Falk, PhD, is a social psychologist and a senior consultant for psychometrics at TIL™.

Prof. Yaniv Almog, MD, is the MICU Director at Soroka Medical Center. He also serves as the Chairman of the Admissions Committee.