Determining Personal Talents and Behavioral Styles of Applicants to Surgical Training: A New Look at an Old Problem, Part I

A method was sought to determine the intangible characteristics of applicants to a general surgery residency program, particularly an assessment of behavior and motivation. The hypothesis was that such information could contribute to a more objective analysis of how well an applicant might fit into a program and its culture, and therefore improve the residents’ chance for success and reduce the attrition rate.