It has always been a sort of unspoken assumption among most Mizzou medical students that there was a high correlation between material that is covered in their lectures and that which is covered on the end-of-block examinations, which are written by the Special Committee of Representatives for Examination Writing (SCREW). A recent study published by the Retrospective Examination Auditors at Mizzou (REAM), however, has revealed some shocking results. The study, which was completed after the most recent panel of tests and includes information from the last six testing blocks, indicates that there is actually little or no correlation between information that is emphasized in lectures and that which appears on the studentsí exams (see Figure 1 below).
So, the results of this ground-breaking study beg the question: how did this misconception get propagated for so long? Well, this reporter asked several students their thoughts on the matterÖ
ìWell, I never really thought about it that much, I guess,î said M2 Peter Marshall. ìI just assumed that we would be tested over the material that we were taught. That would make the most sense to me. Otherwise, why even give the lectures at all?î
M2 Amy Brose said, ìWell, almost all of the tests I took in high school and college were about information we learned in class. I didnít see why med school should be any different. How naÔve I wasÖî
M2 Damien Smith remarked, ìI didnít know quite what to expect from these tests when I first started med school. And after almost a third of the questions on the first test asked about dermatomes and the Erickson stages of development, it became clear to me that I wouldnít be able to use my lecture notes to gauge what to study eitherÖ Frankly, I guess I STILL donít know quite what to expect from these testsÖî
M2 Drew Dykens chimed in from nearby, saying, ìWe still faithfully keep up with running the Coffeepot service, though, because it gives everyone a pretty good idea of what NOT to study for the test. Towards the end of the block, I usually sit down with a stack of Coffeepots and go through Harrisonís, crossing out subjects that weíve covered, and studying everything else. ëCourse I have to buy a new Harrisonís every block, and that gets expensive, but I guess itís better than studying the whole damn book like (M2) Torin (Shear) does.î
When asked how well he thought lecture material correlated with the most recent IPC test, M2 Scott Kirkley responded, ìHow should I know?î M2 Josh Alpers, listening from across the room, said, ìWe have IPC lectures?î
M2 John Medley said he was not surprised by the results of the recent study at all. ìActually, Iíve just released the results of a similar study of my own that Iíve been working on. Iíve been trying to figure out how the length of time that I study my lecture notes correlates to my grades on the test. After the first few blocks, it was apparent to me that there is an inverse relationship. I studied seventeen hours a day for five straight weeks for the Block 2 test and had to retake it. Then I studied for two hours the night before the Block 3 test and got a 99.4%. So now I just look over my notes for like five minutes the morning of the test and Iím set.î
What psychosocial impacts are the results of these studies going to have on medical students? Upon hearing the results of Medleyís study, M2 Sarah Wiederholt was dumbfounded. ìWell, gosh, if I have to stop studying, I donít know what Iím going to do with all of the free time- other than doubling my jogging regimen to 8 hours a day, of course. HmmmÖ I suppose I could start sleeping againÖî
M2 Mark Pogemiller said that he would actually kind of miss the studying. ìAt first, I started studying so much to take my mind off of how bad the Cubs are. But nowÖ the studyingís almost kind of like a friend to meÖ What am I going to do?!î Pogemiller was checked into UMCHC the next day for treatment of withdrawal symptoms and anxiety-separation disorder.
The study results are not bad news for everybody, though. M2 Sam Pate was in his lab on Christmas Eve studying for the upcoming Block 7 exams (and a little for Block 8) when he happened to read the study results. ìI went straight home to spend some time with my kids, since I hadnít seen them in a while. Theyíve really grown- they were walking and talking and everything! Unfortunately, the older oneís starting to look more and more like meÖî
SCREW itself officially denied comment on the results of the study, but this reporter was able to secure an exclusive interview from a SCREW insider on condition of anonymity. ìWell, I guess we never thought of asking test questions based on lecture material. Although in retrospect, I guess that would make sense, wouldnít it? HmmmÖ Maybe Iíll run it by the committee next time, although I wouldnít hold your breath. That sounds like a lot of work, because then weíd have to actually attend the lectures and know whatís being covered and everything. We find itís usually just easier to make up drug names like ëgemcitabineí. Oh, (chuckle) and another good one is to list a bunch of appropriate treatments for a condition and ask which one should be administered FIRST. Because I mean, hell, no matter which answer we decide is the right one, surely some doctor SOMEWHERE does that first, so itís not like those little brats- er, I mean med students- can dispute it.î
When asked why some of the tests have a somewhat higher relative correlation to lecture material than others, the anonymous official responded, ìWell, itís well known that we evaluate our block directors based on their student failure rate, but any system is going to have itís black sheep. After last yearís Block 2 IPC test, we had to tell block director Dr. Dayna Early to start looking for a new job. I mean, a pass rate of over 90% is ridiculous enough, but hers was the highest pass rate weíve had on any test in decades! Disgraceful!î
He continued, ìWe firmly believe that these kids will never become good doctors unless they suffer continually throughout the four years that they are here with us. In fact, those crazy MD/PhD students are going to be the best doctors of all, because they get to suffer for even longer!î
The official said that the preliminary information from the most recent round of tests is in, and the results are mixed. ìAbout halfway through the block, we heard a rumor that PBL block director Dr. Stephen Halenda was actually attending a majority of the lectures. He received a letter of reprimand, of course.î
It appears, however, that Halendaís misconduct may have been reflected in the content of the test, which had one of the highest degrees of correlation since Dr. Paullís Block 3 test.
ìWeíve given up on Paull, of course. It is widely known by the Committee that he may actually even LIKE the students. We, of course, discourage that kind of behavior. Unfortunately, however, we canít find anyone else to teach Neuroanatomy. I mean, God that stuff is boring!î
The results from the IPC exam, written by the Psych Departmentís own Assessment of Psychology Learning & Understanding Group (Ass-PLUG) were most satisfactory though. ìYou can be sure that block director Dr. Nora Frohberg got a hefty Christmas bonus this year!î