| The purpose of this relational study was to determine the strength of Dental Admission Test student scores and student grades in selected School of Dentistry basic science courses as predictors of student performance on Part I of the National Board Dental Examinations. Student scores on the Dental Admission Test, student grades in selected basic science courses, and student performance on Part I of the National Board Dental Examinations were analyzed using multiple regression for the 114 students matriculating in the University of Mississippi School of Dentistry in 1992, 1993, 1994, and 1995.;The results of the study show that for student performance on all of the sections of Part I of the National Board Dental Examinations there was at least one Dental Admission Test student subtest score that was a statistically significant predictor of student performance. The results also show that at least one basic science student course grade was a statistically significant predictor of student performance on each section of Part I of the National Board Dental Examinations.;The Dental Admission Test reading comprehension subtest score was a statistically significant predictor of student performance on all four sections of Part I of the National Board Dental Examinations. Additional Dental Admission Test subtest scores that were statistically significant predictors of student performance on individual sections of Part I of the National Board Dental Examinations were biology, organic chemistry, and quantitative analysis.;The basic science course student grade in physiology was a statistically significant predictor of student performance on all four sections of Part I of the National Board Dental Examinations. Additional basic science course student grades that were statistically significant predictors of student performance on individual sections of Part I of the National Board Dental Examinations were dental morphology, pathology, neuroanatomy, microscopic anatomy, microbiology and biochemistry.;The most powerful relationship between the Dental Admission Test student scores and student performance on Part I of the National Board Dental Examinations was in students' reading comprehension. The basic science course student grade with the strongest relationship to Part I of the National Board Dental Examinations was physiology. |
