Quantitative metrics and psychometric scales in the visual art and medical education literature: a narrative review

Med Educ Online. 2022 Dec;27(1):2010299. doi: 10.1080/10872981.2021.2010299.

Abstract

The authors conduct a narrative review of the quantitative observation metrics and psychometric scales utilized in the visual arts and medical education literature in order to provide medical educators with a 'toolkit' of quantitative metrics with which to design and evaluate novel visual arts-based pedagogies. These efforts are intended to support the AAMC and National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's aims to formally evaluate and integrate arts and humanities curricula into traditional scientific educational programming. The scales reviewed examine a variety of domains including tolerance for ambiguity, bias, burnout, communication, empathy, grit, and mindfulness/reflection. Observation skill, given the heterogeneity of quantitative metrics, is reviewed separately.

Keywords: Medical education; curriculum development; medical humanities; observation skill; visual arts.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Benchmarking*
  • Curriculum
  • Education, Medical*
  • Humanities
  • Humans
  • Psychometrics

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Office of Academic Affiliations, Department of Veterans Affairs