AUTHOR=Levacher Julie , Koch Marco , Stegt Stephan J. , Hissbach Johanna , Spinath Frank M. , Escher Malvin , Becker Nicolas 

TITLE=The construct validity of the main student selection tests for medical studies in Germany

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Education

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/education/articles/10.3389/feduc.2023.1120129

DOI=10.3389/feduc.2023.1120129

ISSN=2504-284X

ABSTRACT=<p>Standardized ability tests that are associated with intelligence are often used for student selection. In Germany two different admission procedures to select students for medical studies are used simultaneously; the TMS and the HAM-Nat. Due to this simultaneous use of both a detailed analysis of the construct validity is mandatory. Therefore, the aim of the study is the construct validation of both selection procedures by using data of 4,528 participants (<italic>M<sub>age</sub></italic> = 20.42, <italic>SD</italic> = 2.74) who took part in a preparation study under low stakes conditions. This study compares different model specifications within the correlational structure of intelligence factors as well as analysis the g-factor consistency of the admission tests. Results reveal that all subtests are correlated substantially. Furthermore, confirmatory factor analyses demonstrate that both admission tests (and their subtests) are related to <italic>g</italic> as well as to a further test-specific-factor. Therefore, from a psychometric point of view, the simultaneous use of both student selection procedures appears to be legitimate.</p>