Mitigating Biases in Clinical and Simulation-based Assessments

Date: Saturday, 26 September 2026 | Time: 0920 - 1050 | Venue: L1-S1, Academia (SGH Campus)

Track Type: Symposium

Speaker(s):

Overview:

All of us are naturally wired for stereotyping and biases. These cognitive shortcuts help us to manage the overwhelming volume of stimuli encountered in everyday environments. If we aim to create fair and effective assessments, we must recognize and manage these biases. Whether covert or overt, biases can creep into the design of assessment instruments and may appear whenever performance-based judgements are made. This challenge affects all types of assessments; from multiple choice questions to essays, simulation- to work-based assessments. No assessment is immune. This symposium will highlight strategies for identifying and mitigating the influence of bias on assessments.

The causes of biases are multifactorial and include individual such as personal and professional values, cultural norms and generational preferences. System level influences must also be considered. Benson and Manoogian identified 188 cognitive biases in their well-known “bias wheel.”

Bias cannot be completely eliminated, but evidence-based strategies can help reduce the impact. These range from key stakeholder input (“nothing about me without me”) to rater training. The goal is to enhance assessment fairness and accuracy, two critical elements in educating learners for tomorrow’s world.

This symposium will explore how bias manifests in both clinical and simulation-based assessments. Speakers will examine the cognitive foundations of bias, discuss common sources of bias in assessment practice, and share practical strategies that can be implemented to promote more equitable and accurate learner evaluations.

Learning Outcome(s):

By attending the symposium, the participants will be able to

1. Explain why humans are wired for stereotyping and biases
2. Identify potential biases in clinical work-based and simulation-based assessments
3. Discuss strategies for training assessors to manage their biases more effectively

Target Audience:

Clinician Educators, Simulation Educators, Educationalists, Administrators involved in learner assessment