CASPer (Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics), is an admissions test developed by researchers Dr. Harold Reiter and Dr. Kelly Dore at McMaster University's Program for Educational Research and Development (PERD) and used by the McMaster University Medical School since 2010. The test was developed to assess an academic applicant's personal and professional (also known as non-cognitive or non-academic) attributes in an online format in the pre-screening stage of the application process. The test has been in use at McMaster University Medical School since 2010. It was piloted by Northern Ontario School of Medicine in the 2014 application cycle. In 2015 the test was adopted by three medical schools: the University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and New York Medical College. In 2015, the test was also adopted by the nursing schools at McMaster University, York University, Mohawk College and Conestoga College. In 2016, it was also adopted by Tulane University School of Medicine, East Tennessee State University and Central Michigan University's Schools of Medicine.
Contents
- Medical schools
- Nursing schools
- Optometry schools
- Pharmacy schools
- Veterinary schools
- Dentistry schools
- Format
- References
Since 2015, development and delivery of CASPer has been the responsibility of Altus Assessments Inc, a Canadian Corporation, and delivered through the site takecasper.com. CASPer is a registered trademark of Altus Assessments in the US, Australia, and the EU.
Two primary peer-reviewed papers are published covering the structure and efficacy of CASPer. The original paper, published in Academic Medicine, references the original name of CASPer "CMSENS",. The second primary peer-reviewed paper is published in Advances in Health Science Education, and covers the structure, reliability and predictive validity found for the test.
Although fees vary by program and country, CASPer cost consists of a base fee ($10-40) and a distribution fee for each school results are sent to ($10). Results are valid for one application cycle only.
Medical schools
Medical schools currently using CASPer (year adopted in brackets):
Nursing schools
Nursing schools currently using CASPer (year adopted in brackets):
Optometry schools
Optometry schools currently using CASPer (year adopted in brackets):
Pharmacy schools
Pharmacy schools currently using CASPer (year adopted in brackets):
Veterinary schools
Veterinary schools currently using CASPer (year adopted in brackets):
Dentistry schools
Dentistry schools currently using CASPer (year adopted in brackets):
Format
The test, which is a form of situational judgement test, has 12 sections that either consist of video-based scenarios or word-based scenarios, based on real life situations. Video based scenarios consist of a short video followed by a series of 3 open ended follow-up questions. Word based scenarios consist of a paragraph describing a scenario followed by a series of 3 open ended follow up questions. Candidates have 5 minutes to answer these 3 questions. In video based scenarios, the video cannot be replayed.