Summary of the impact

Applied psychology research undertaken at City University London has had a major impact on improving high stakes medical selection. Previously doctors were selected by curriculum vitae and unstructured interviews which resulted in bias and discrimination in selection. The research has provided evidence for using new selection methodologies: machine-marked tests (job knowledge and situational judgment tests) and assessment centres, informed by best practice in Occupational Psychology. These apply to all medical specialties (e.g., surgeons and anaesthetists), several healthcare professions (e.g., doctors, nurses, dentists) and selection points of entry (medical school through to specialty roles). Impact includes:

• UK Medical Royal Colleges and Medical Schools Council adopted the selection methods
• Major UK policy impact and significant cost savings for the NHS, the second largest organisation in the world
• Internationally, new methods were adopted due to the research outputs.