The predictive utility of behavior-based interviewing compared with traditional interviewing in the selection of radiology residents

Abstract

Rationale and objectives: This study compares the predictive use of measures based on traditional faculty and resident interviews of residency applicants with measures obtained through behavior-based interviewing. A special emphasis was placed on predicting residents' noncognitive abilities.

Methods: One hundred fifty-one resident applicants, over a 3-year period, were interviewed using standard interviews by faculty and residents. These residents also were interviewed with an experimental behavior-based accomplishment interview. Four years later, during their diagnostic radiology residency, evaluations of performance were gathered on these applicants from their residency director.

Results: Results indicated that scores based on responses given during the accomplishment interviews added considerable predictive utility to the low prediction demonstrated by traditional interviews.

Conclusions: These findings imply that improving unstructured faculty and resident interviews to obtain, in a more rigorous manner, desired information about noncognitive abilities may be a key to successful resident selection.