TY - JOUR
T1 - The mechanism of impact of summative assessment on medical students' learning
AU - Cilliers, Francois
AU - Schuwirth, Lambertus
AU - Adendorff, H.J.
AU - Herman, N
AU - Van der Vleuten, Cees
PY - 2010/12
Y1 - 2010/12
N2 - It has become axiomatic that assessment impacts powerfully on student learning, but there is a surprising dearth of research on how. This study explored the mechanism of impact of summative assessment on the process of learning of theory in higher education. Individual, in-depth interviews were conducted with medical students and analyzed qualitatively. The impact of assessment on learning was mediated through various determinants of action. Respondents' learning behaviour was influenced by: appraising the impact of assessment; appraising their learning response; their perceptions of agency; and contextual factors. This study adds to scant extant evidence and proposes a mechanism to explain this impact. It should help enhance the use of assessment as a tool to augment learning.
AB - It has become axiomatic that assessment impacts powerfully on student learning, but there is a surprising dearth of research on how. This study explored the mechanism of impact of summative assessment on the process of learning of theory in higher education. Individual, in-depth interviews were conducted with medical students and analyzed qualitatively. The impact of assessment on learning was mediated through various determinants of action. Respondents' learning behaviour was influenced by: appraising the impact of assessment; appraising their learning response; their perceptions of agency; and contextual factors. This study adds to scant extant evidence and proposes a mechanism to explain this impact. It should help enhance the use of assessment as a tool to augment learning.
KW - Assessment
KW - Determinants of action
KW - Learning
KW - Mechanism of impact
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=78649904322&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10459-010-9232-9
DO - 10.1007/s10459-010-9232-9
M3 - Article
VL - 15
SP - 695
EP - 715
JO - Advances in Health Sciences Education
JF - Advances in Health Sciences Education
SN - 1382-4996
IS - 5
ER -