Comparison of Validity of two Systems of Candidates’ Admission for Pharmaceutical Studies: a 15-year Retrospective Study

Abstract:

Background: Comparing predictive validity of admission criteria for the MsPharm (Master of Sciences of Pharmacy) studies in the period prior and following the reform of the university admission system in Poland illustrated on the example of data obtained from the Faculty of Pharmacy at the Medical University of Warsaw (MUW). Methods: Admission data was correlated with the learning outcomes of students who undertook the MA studies at the pharmaceutical department between the years 2000/01-2009/10 (N=1702, mean age 19.3 ± 1.22). The method of predictive validity of the old admission system (specific entrance exam) and the new system (the national Polish maturity exam) was performed using correlation and method of multiple linear regression. Results: Chemistry, biology and the total score of ranking points showed a significant correlation with bioGPA, chemGPA, and cumulative GPA but its power was greater for the old system of admission. The analysis of regression showed that by and large, women achieve better learning outcomes. Age on entry was an important success predictor only in the old system of recruitment. Both recruitment criteria were a positive prognostic in the old admission system. The new system of recruitment showed significantly weaker predictive ability of student’s performance during pharmaceutical study. Conclusion: Admission system based on the national Polish entry test exam is characterised by a much greater predictive validity of future student’s performance than the admission system based on the results of the national maturity exam. It is necessary to monitor and improve the accuracy of currently used recruitment regulations further through testing evaluation of candidates’ non-cognitive attributes.

Key words: Predictive validity, Student performance, Educational measurement, School admission criteria, Pharmacy education.