MedEdPORTAL (Jun 2013)
Critical Synthesis Package: Medical Education Teaching Readiness Questionnaire (METRQ)
Abstract
Abstract This Critical Synthesis Package contains: (1) a Critical Analysis of the psychometric properties and application to health sciences education for the Medical Education Teaching Readiness Questionnaire (METRQ), and (2) a copy of the METRQ instrument and the scoring key developed by Beverly Henry, PhD. The METRQ is a self-administered paper-based questionnaire providing a broad view of respondents' self-perceptions of teaching preparedness and attitudes towards teaching. The METRQ is comprised of nine sections employing a variety of question and response formats including multiple-choice questions, fill-in-the-blank items, and questions with 7-point Likert-type responses. An additional section provides discrete demographic data for the respondents and includes yes/no responses to their experiences as coaches or teachers prior to medical school as well as formal teacher training prior to medical school. A scoring key provides guidance for each item type and then maps individual questions into six general study variables: teaching instruction, ways of learning, teaching preparedness, teacher characteristics, teaching functions, and attitudes about teaching. Strengths include applicability across clinically-based health professions and relevance at various points along the training continuum. Questions asking for self-reflection of ability to teach are novel. The METRQ is limited by its reliance on recall and individual perception and therefore results obtained in the initial study may not be transferable to other populations. The METRQ would work best as a needs assessment for those designing teacher-training programs or for assessing the current status of individuals who are teaching in the health professions. The tool was developed to survey recent medical school graduates within their first year of residency training. A matching questionnaire designed for medical students is also available upon request.
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