Experienced Full-time Physical Therapy Faculty’s’ perceptions using Learning-Oriented Assessment Pro
Contact: Destiny Gaddis
Contact Email: Destiny.Gaddis@touro.edu
Title: Experienced Full-time Physical Therapy Faculty’s’ perceptions using Learning-Oriented Assessment Processes for preparing DPT students for the NPTE.
Ideal Participant: DPT full time faculty with 5 years experience
Description: The purpose of this basic qualitative study is to explore experienced full-time DPT faculty perceptions of the use of the learning-oriented assessment (LOA) processes to support students preparing for the NPTE. As the demands of student physical therapy education continue to evolve, faculty are increasingly expected to implement assessment strategies that go beyond grading and instead promote learning, self-regulation, and long-term competence. However, limited research currently exists that examines how faculty perceive and utilize the LOA framework within the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs. This study will address this gap by investigating how physical therapy faculty interpret and apply LOA principles and how these practices may influence student performance and readiness for high-stakes exams, such as the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE).The importance of this research lies in its potential to inform faculty development initiatives, assessment design, and institutional support structures aimed at enhancing educational outcomes in physical therapy programs. Using a basic qualitative research design, the proposed study will collect data through semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of full-time faculty members from accredited DPT programs across the United States. Data will be analyzed during thematic analysis to identify patterns and themes that reflect faculty experiences and perceptions. The findings are expected to contribute to the broader literature on assessment in health professional education and offer actionable recommendations for educators, administrators, and accrediting bodies.