Home Research Research Library The reliability of American Board of Family Medicine examinations: implications for test takers The reliability of American Board of Family Medicine examinations: implications for test takers 2012 Author(s) Royal, Kenneth D, and Puffer, James C Keyword(s) Psychometrics Volume Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine Source Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine A common theme among family physicians who have performed poorly repeatedly on the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) Maintenance of Certification (MC-FP) examination is the complaint that they received a score that was identical, or almost identical, to their score on a previous administration of the examination. From their perspective, why they received the exact same score (or a very similar score), despite additional study time and preparation, is a mystery. Often, physicians assume a mix-up has occurred and ask if it is possible that results have been provided erroneously from their previous attempt. After a psychometric review, it is clear that there is no mistake at all. In fact, we anticipate many test takers will receive a comparable score on future successful attempts at taking the examination. We base this anticipation on the psychometric concept of reliability. ABFM Research Read all 2026 Demonstrating the Reliability and Structural Validity of Creating Patient-Level and Clinician-Level Scores on the Person Centered Primary Care Measure Go to Demonstrating the Reliability and Structural Validity of Creating Patient-Level and Clinician-Level Scores on the Person Centered Primary Care Measure 2026 Reflections on Family Medicine’s First Year of Program Signals and Other New ERAS Features Go to Reflections on Family Medicine’s First Year of Program Signals and Other New ERAS Features 2026 Estimation of Mortality via the Neighborhood Atlas and Reproducible Area Deprivation Indices Go to Estimation of Mortality via the Neighborhood Atlas and Reproducible Area Deprivation Indices 2026 Primary Care Physician Continuity Is a Consistent Measure Associated with Lower Costs and Hospitalizations Go to Primary Care Physician Continuity Is a Consistent Measure Associated with Lower Costs and Hospitalizations
Author(s) Royal, Kenneth D, and Puffer, James C Keyword(s) Psychometrics Volume Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine Source Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine
ABFM Research Read all 2026 Demonstrating the Reliability and Structural Validity of Creating Patient-Level and Clinician-Level Scores on the Person Centered Primary Care Measure Go to Demonstrating the Reliability and Structural Validity of Creating Patient-Level and Clinician-Level Scores on the Person Centered Primary Care Measure 2026 Reflections on Family Medicine’s First Year of Program Signals and Other New ERAS Features Go to Reflections on Family Medicine’s First Year of Program Signals and Other New ERAS Features 2026 Estimation of Mortality via the Neighborhood Atlas and Reproducible Area Deprivation Indices Go to Estimation of Mortality via the Neighborhood Atlas and Reproducible Area Deprivation Indices 2026 Primary Care Physician Continuity Is a Consistent Measure Associated with Lower Costs and Hospitalizations Go to Primary Care Physician Continuity Is a Consistent Measure Associated with Lower Costs and Hospitalizations
2026 Demonstrating the Reliability and Structural Validity of Creating Patient-Level and Clinician-Level Scores on the Person Centered Primary Care Measure Go to Demonstrating the Reliability and Structural Validity of Creating Patient-Level and Clinician-Level Scores on the Person Centered Primary Care Measure
2026 Reflections on Family Medicine’s First Year of Program Signals and Other New ERAS Features Go to Reflections on Family Medicine’s First Year of Program Signals and Other New ERAS Features
2026 Estimation of Mortality via the Neighborhood Atlas and Reproducible Area Deprivation Indices Go to Estimation of Mortality via the Neighborhood Atlas and Reproducible Area Deprivation Indices
2026 Primary Care Physician Continuity Is a Consistent Measure Associated with Lower Costs and Hospitalizations Go to Primary Care Physician Continuity Is a Consistent Measure Associated with Lower Costs and Hospitalizations
