
Profiles
Dr Daniel Zahra
Senior Assessment Psychometrician
Peninsula Medical School (Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry)
Qualifications
2004-2007 BSc (Honours) Psyhology, 1st Class
2007-2008 MSc Psychological Research Methods, Distinction
2008-2013 PhD "How Does Emotion Affect Reasoning?"
Professional membership
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Graduate Member of the Society of Personality and Social Psychology
Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society
Research interests
Current Research Interests: http://daniel-zahra.webs.com/
Grants & contracts
ESRC 1+3 funded MSc-PhD programme.
Papers
Broad, J., Matheson, M., Verrall, F., Taylor, A.K., Zahra, D., Alldridge, L., & Feder, G. (2018) Discrimination, harassment and non-reporting in UK undergraduate medical education. Medical Education. 52(4) 414-426.
Ali, K., Zahra, D., McIlwaine, C., Jones, G., & Tredwin, C. (2018) Use of Progress testing in Dental Therapy and Hygiene Education. Journal of Dental Education. 82(2) 130-136.
Ali, K., Jerreat, M., Zahra, D. & Tredwin, C. (2017) Correlations between final-year dental students’ performance on knowledge-based and clinical examinations. Journal of Dental Education. 82(12) 1444-1450.
Zahra, D., Roberts, M.J., Bryce, M., O'Brien, T., & Archer, J. (2017) Analysis of fitness to practise case data for the General Dental Council; Appendix to February 2017 report. General Dental Council (August).
Zahra, D., Roberts, M.J., Bryce, M., O'Brien, T., & Archer, J. (2017) Analysis of fitness to practise case data for the General Dental Council. General Dental Council (February).
Burr, S.A., Zahra, D., Cookson, J., Salih, V.M., Gabe-Thomas, .E, & Robinson, I.M. (2017) Angoff anchor statements: setting a flawed gold standard?. MedEdPublish, 6(3) Paper 53. [Online]
Ali, K., Zahra, D., Coelho, C., Jones, G., & Tredwin, C. (2017) Academic Performance of Undergraduate Dental Students with Learning Disabilities. British Dental Journal. 222(3) 205-208.
Ali, K., Zahra, D., McColl, E., Salih, V., & Tredwin, C. (2017) Impact of Early Clinical Exposure on the Learning Experiences of Undergraduate Students. European Journal of Dental Education. xx(xx) xx-xx [Online Early-Access].
Zahra, D., Robinson, I.M., Roberts, M.J., Coombes, L., Cockerill, J., & Burr, S.A (2017) Rigour in moderation processes is more important than the choice of method. Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education. 42(7) 1159-1167.
Ali, K., Slade, A., Kay, E., Zahra, D., & Tredwin, C. (2017) Preparedness of undergraduate dental students in the United Kingdom: a national study. British Dental Journal. 222, 472-477
Ali, K., Slade, A., Kay, L., Zahra, D., Chatterjee, A., & Tredwin, C. (2016) Application of Rasch analysis in the development and psychometric evaluation of dental undergraduates preparedness assessment scale. European Journal of Dental Education. 21(4) e135-e141 [Online Early-Access].
Ali, K., Zahra, D., & Tredwin, C. (2016) Comparison of graduate-entry and direct school leaver student performance on an applied dental knowledge test. European Journal of Dental Education. 21(4) 248-251 [Online Early-Access].
Zahra, D., Langsford, M., & Griffiths, T. (2016) Emotional Logic Development Profiles – Assessing the Benefits of Emotional Logic Training, International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice 20(3) 141-145.
Zahra, D., Hedge, C., Pesola, F. & Burr, S. (2016) Accounting for test reliability in student progression: the reliable change index, Medical Education 50(7) 738-745.
Archer, J., Roberts, M.J., Zahra, D., Bryce, M., & O'Brien. (2015) Analysis of fitness to practise case data for the General Dental Council. General Dental Council (September).
Coombes, L., Roberts, M., Zahra, D. & Burr, S. (2015) Twelve tips for assessment psychometrics. Medical Teacher 38(3) 250-254 [Online]
Zahra, D., Monk, R.L., & Corder, E. (2015) 'If you drink alcohol, then you will get cancer': Investigating how reasoning accuracy is affected by pictorially presented graphic alcohol warnings. Alcohol and Alcoholism. 50(5) 608-616 [Online]
Roser, M.E., Aslin, R.N., McKenzie, B., Zahra, D., & Fiser, J. (2015) Enhanced visual statistical learning in adults with autism. Neuropsychology. 29(2) 163-172
Zahra, D., Qureshi, A., Pooler, J., Henley, W., Taylor, R., & Byng, R. (2014) The Work and Social Adjustment Scale: Reliability, Sensitivity, and Value. International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice. 18(2) 131-138
Hennessy, C.H., Staelens, Y., Lankshear, G., Phippen, A., Silk, A., & Zahra, D. (2014) Rural connectivity and older people’s leisure participation. In C.H. Hennessy, R. Means and V. Burholt (eds) Countryside connections: Older people, community and place in rural Britain (Ch.3, pp. 63-94). Bristol: The Policy Press
Zahra, D., Bailey, C., Hedge, C., Wyles, K., & Sanders, B.G. (2013) A Short Report on the Trait Meta-Mood Scale and the Importance of Scale Norms. Social Psychological Review 15(1) 53-64
Jones, R.B., Soler-Lopez, M., Zahra, D., Shankleman, J. & Trenchard-Mabere, E. (2013) Using online adverts to increase the uptake of cervical screening amongst ‘real Eastenders’: an opportunistic controlled trial. BMC Research Notes, 6:117
Paton, J.S, Stenhouse, E.A, Bruce, G., Zahra, D. & Jones, R.B. (2012) A comparison of customised and prefabricated insoles to reduce risk factors for neuropathic diabetic foot ulceration: a participant-blinded randomised controlled trial. Journal of Foot and Ankle Research, 5:31, OnlineFirst
Zahra, D. (2013) Mood, Emotive Content, and Reasoning. PhD Thesis, University of Plymouth [Open Access]
Zahra, D. (2012) Meaning and Purpose. Experimentation: Psychology, September edition
Zahra, D. (2012) Love Psychology. Experimentation: Psychology, May edition
Zahra, D. (2012) The Irrationality of Logic. Experimentation: Psychology, April edition
Zahra, D. & Wyles, K. (2012) Statistics: Who needs them?. Psychology Procrastination, 1(March), 18
Byng, R., Newbold, L., Qureshi, A., Hardy, G., Forber, S., Pooler, J., Zahra, D., Weyer-Brown, C., Taylor, R., Henley, W., Anderson, R., Sheaff, R., Bannon, J., Carter, C., Stirzaker, A., Evetts, P., Howells, L., Leese, M. & Hutton, R. (2011) The South West Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) Evaluation Study, Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry. [SHA and NIHR funded report, available from authors]
Zahra, D. (2011) The Handbook of Jealousy: theory, research, and multidisciplinary approaches (Book Review). Social Psychological Review, 13(1), 37-39
Zahra, D. (2011) Undergraduate student to postgraduate teacher: Reflections from both sides of the coin (Invited Editorial). The Plymouth Student Scientist, 4(2), 1-2
Sanders, B., Zahra, D., Hedge, C. & Summerscales, J. (2011) Heavier or just colder? A new approach to perception research. Psychology Postgraduate Affairs Group Quarterly, 78, 4-8
Sanders, B., Chen, V., Zahra, D., Dowland, P., Atkinson, S., Papadaki, M., & Furnell, S. (2010) Online addiction: Privacy risks in online gaming environments. Proceedings of the International Conference on Management of Emergent Digital EcoSystems (MEDES), October 26-29, Thailand, 114-121
Sanders, B., Dowland, P., Atkinson, S., Zahra, D., Furnell, S., & Papadaki, M. (2010) Online addiction: A cultural comparison of privacy risks in online gaming environments. Journal of Multimedia Processing Technologies, 1(3) 181-194
Zahra, D. & Hedge, C. (2010) The reliable change index: Why isn't it more popular in academic psychology?Psychology Postgraduate Affairs Group Quarterly, 76, 14-19 [Download] [See also Zahra & Hedge, 2015 in press, for update to table]
Zahra, D. (2008, unpublished) Mood and syllogistic reasoning: affect as information or cognitive load? Unpublished MSc Thesis. University of Plymouth [Available from Author]
Zahra, D. (2008) Do anxiety level and anxiety-related content affect accuracy and endorsement rate on syllogistic reasoning by increasing reliance on belief-biased heuristic processing? The Plymouth Student Scientist, 1(1), 229-295
Zahra, D. (2006) Could better understanding of the links between cognition and emotion help reduce the number of students who suffer from assessment anxiety? Psych-Talk, 55(December), 13-15
Presentations and Workshops
Ali, K., Cockerill, J., Zahra, D., & Ferguson, C. (2018) Do students on different programmes use different resources to prepare for the Progress Test?. To be presented at the EUMS-EBMA Looking Ahead in Progress Testing conference, 22nd June, Exeter, UK.
Baines, R., Grace, A., Symons, J. & Zahra, D. (2018) What is the role of Patient and Public involvement in training tomorrow's healthcare professionals?. Seminar at the Shaping Cultures: How should we train and sustain professionals to deliver 21st century healthcare, 25th January, Plymouth, UK.
McIlwaine, C., Zahra, D., & Spowart, L. (2017) Does the Introduction of Self-Assessment in the Simulated Environment Identify Clinical Learning Needs in Undergraduate Dental Students?. Presented at the European Board of Medical Assessors conference, 14th-15th November, Egmond aan Zee, Netherlands.
McIlwaine, C., Zahra, D., Belfield, L. A., Brookes, Z., Collingwood, J., Potterton, R., & Zaric, S. (2017) Challenging the Conventional Curriculum: An Inter-Professional Undergraduate Dental Programme. Presented at the British Society for Oral Dental Research annual meeting, September 6th-8th, Plymouth, UK.
Ali, K., Tredwin, C., & Zahra, D. (2017) Use of Progress Testing as a tool for Integrated Assessment and Learning in Dental Education. Presented at the ADEE annual conference, 23rd-26th August, Vilnius, Lithuania.
Zahra, D. & Cockerill, J. (2017) Understanding Standard Setting. Workshop facilitated at the Academy of Medical Educators 'Assessment for Healthcare Educators' event, 11th July, Cardiff Medical School, UK. [Online]
Cockerill, J. & Zahra, D. (2017) Developing a Robust Post-test Process. Workshop facilitated at the Academy of Medical Educators 'Assessment for Healthcare Educators' event, 11th July, Cardiff Medical School, UK. [Online]
Cockerill, J., Roberts, M.J., Gabe-Thomas, E., & Zahra, D. (2017) Exploring the use of item statistics based on negatively marked scores and dichotomised scores. Presented at the Association for the Study of Medical Education annual conference, 21st-22nd June, Exeter, UK.
Zahra, D., Belfield, L., & McIlwaine, C. (2016) Exploring the Relationship Between Prior Qualifications and Dental Science Knowledge in DTH Students. Presented at the European Board of Medical Assessors conference, 14th-15th October, Exeter, UK.
Chatterjee, A., Burr, S., Zahra, D., & Gabe-Thomas, E. (2016) Early identification of the struggling learner using learning analytics: Opportunities and Challenges. Presented at the European Board of Medical Assessors conference, 14th-15th October, Exeter, UK.
Zahra, D., Monk R.L. & Corder, E. (2016) Visual conditionals and reasoning about alcohol warnings. Invited talk presented as part of the Cognition in Context seminar series, University of Wolverhampton, May 4th, Wolverhampton.
Zahra, D. & Carr, A. (2016) Introduction of progress testing to enhance applied medical knowledge acquisition in Physician Associate students. Talk presented at the 17th Ottawa Conference, March 19th-23rd, Perth, WA.
Zahra, D. (2015) Simulation and Clinical Decision Making. Talk presented at the Collaboration for the Advancement of Medical Education Research and Assessment (CAMERA) research group, Plymouth
Zahra, D., Qureshi, A., Pooler, J., Henley, W., Taylor, R., Weyer-Brown, C., Hardy, G., Newbold, L. & Byng, R. (2012) The Work and Social Adjustment Scale: Reliability, Sensitivity to Change, and its value as a Patient Reported Outcome Measure. Presented at the Society for Academic Primary Care Annual Research Meeting; , March 1st-2nd, Torquay
Qureshi, A., Byng, R., Newbold, A., Zahra, D., Pooler, J., Hardy, G., Forber, S., Weyer-Brown, C., Taylor, R., Henley, W., et al. (2012) Variations in access to therapy for depression and anxiety with the new Improving Access to Psychological Therapy Services. Presented at the Society for Academic Primary Care Annual Research Meeting; March 1st-2nd, Torquay
Byng, R., Shaw, J., Weyer-Brown, C., Shenton, D., Qureshi, A., Zahra, D., & Hill, C. (2012) Need and feasibility for a trial of an intervention to support prisoners with common mental health problems. Presented at the Society for Academic Primary Care Annual Research Meeting; March 1st-2nd, Torquay
Zahra, D., Qureshi, A., Pooler, J., Henley, W., Taylor, R., & Byng, R. (2012) The Work and Social Adjustment Scale: Reliability, Sensitivity, and its value as a Patient Reported Outcome Measure. Presented at the WPA Thematic Conference; Mental Health and Family Working Together, February 8th-11th, Grenada, Spain.
Zahra, D. (2011) Work and Social Adjustment Scale: Reliability, Sensitivity, and Factor Structure. Draft manuscript presented for comment at the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry research group, Plymouth
Zahra, D. (2010) Syllogistic reasoning, emotive content, and a rethinking of theory. Talk presented at the 27th annual BPS Cognitive Section Conference, Cardiff
Zahra, D. (2010) Emotive content in syllogistic reasoning: Do you think or feel?, Talk presented at the Psychology Postgraduate Affairs Group Annual Conference, Sheffield
Zahra, D. (2010) NO:EMOTION, Talk presented at the University of Plymouth Thinking and Reasoning Group, Plymouth
Zahra, D. (2010) [Something Interesting]: Syllogistic reasoning, emotive content, and some unexpected results. Presented at the 2nd Annual University of Plymouth Department of Psychology Postgraduate and Staff Conference, Plymouth
Posters
Zahra, D. & Burr, S.A. (2017) Question Complexity and Student Performance in Single-Best-Answer Medical Knowledge MCQs. Poster presented at the European Board of Medical Assessors conference, 14th-15th November, Egmond aan Zee, Netherlands.
Zahra, D., Belfield, L. A., McIlwaine, C., Ali, K., Bennett, J., Jones, G., Jarreat, M., & Zaric, S. (2017) Exploring the relationships between Dental Therapy and Hygiene students’s prior qualifications, admission interviews, and performance on knowledge- and skills-based assessments. Presented at the British Society for Oral Dental Research annual meeting, September 6th-8th, Plymouth, UK.
Potterton, R., Zahra, D., Witton, R., & McIlwaine, C. (2017) Comparison of Dental Therapy and Hygiene and Bachelor of Dental Surgery student assessment outcomes in an Inter-Professional Engagement module of an integrated curriculum. Poster presented at the European Board of Medical Assessors conference, 14th-15th November, Egmond aan Zee, Netherlands.
Zahra, D., Belfield, L. A., McIlwaine, C., Ali, K., Bennett, J., & Zaric, S. (2017) Exploring the relationships between knowledge- and skills-based assessment performance in Dental Therapy and Hygiene students as a function of prior qualifications. Presented at the British Society for Oral Dental Research annual meeting, September 6th-8th, Plymouth, UK.
Mcilwaine, C., Zahra, D., Brooks, Z., Zaric, S. Collingwood, J., & Belfield, L. (2017) An Inter-Professional Undergraduate Dental Curriculum. Presented at the Vice Chancellor's 15th Teaching and Learning Conference, 30th June, Plymouth, UK.
Baines, R., Regan de Beer, S., Bhalla, B., Gale, T., Kelly, A., Medd, E., Moore, J. & Zahra, D. (2017) The impact of patient and public involvement in the teaching and assessment of vaginal examination skills. Presented at the 6th Annual Pedagogic Research Institute and Observatory (PedRIO), April 4th, Plymouth, UK.
Cockerill, J., Gabe-Thomas, E., Ferguson, C., Zahra, D. & Roberts, M. (2016) A tool to help ensure coverage of the assessment blueprint in multiple choice questions. Presented at the European Board of Medical Assessors conference, 14th-15th October, Exeter, UK.
Ali, K., Tredwin, C., Salih, V. & Zahra, D. (2016) Development and evolution of progress testing in undergraduate dental education. Presented at the European Board of Medical Assessors conference, 14th-15th October, Exeter, UK.
Zahra, D., Cockerill, J., Gabe-Thomas, E., Roberts, M.J. (2016) Measuring Knowledge Growth: Reliable Change and Identifying Struggling Students. Presented at the European Board of Medical Assessors conference, 14th-15th October, Exeter, UK.
Ali, K., McColl, E., Salih, V., Zahra, D., & Tredwin, C. (2016) Impact of Early Clinical Exposure on the Learning Experiences of Undergraduate Students. Presented at the annual conference of the Association for Dental Education in Europe, August 24th-26th, Barcelona, Spain.
Ali, K., Slade, A., Kay, L., Zahra, D., Chatterjee, A., & Tredwin, C. (2016) Development and Psychometric Evaluation of Dental Undergraduates Preparedness Assessment (DU PAS) using Rasch Analysis. Presented at the annual conference of the Association for Dental Education in Europe, August 24th-26th, Barcelona, Spain.
Cripps, A., Hart, R., Edwards, J., Zahra, D., & Chatterjee, A. (2016) Personalised recall app for enhancing medical knowledge retention: A pilot study. Presented at the annual meeting of the Association for the Study of Medical Education, July 6th-8th, Belfast.
Belfield, L., McIlwaine, C., Zaric, S., Coombes, L., Jones,G., Zahra, D., & Bennett, J. (2015) Integrated Basic Medical Science (BMS) Teaching for Dental and Dental Therapy Students. Poster presented at the annual conference of the Association for Dental Education in Europe, 25th-29th August, Szeged, Hungary
Roser, M., McKenzie, B., Bach, P., Goodwin, A., Zahra, D., Fulford, J., & Benattayallah, A. (2012) Relational Integration in Autism and Asperger Syndrome: A functional MRI / diffusion-tensor imaging experiment. Poster presented at the launch of the Cognition Institute, Plymouth
Zahra, D., Handley, S.J., Schnall, S., & Evans, J.S.B.T. (2012) Conditional reasoning with emotive content. Poster presented at the International Conference on Thinking, Birkbeck, University of London
Zahra, D., Handley, S. J., Schnall, S., & Evans, J. S. B. T. (2011) An Emotional Needle in a Reasoning Haystack. Poster presented at the Psychology Postgraduate Affairs Group Annual Conference, Bangor
Zahra, D., Bailey, C., Hedge, C., Wyles, K. & Sanders, B.G. (2011) Trait Meta-Mood in a Student Population. Poster presented at the 3rd Annual University of Plymouth Department of Psychology Postgraduate and Staff Conference, Plymouth
Zahra, D., Handley, S. J., Schnall, S., & Evans, J. S. B. T. (2010) Emotive content in conditional reasoning. Poster presented at the 2nd Annual University of Plymouth Department of Psychology Postgraduate and Staff Conference, Plymouth
Zahra, D., Handley, S. J., Schnall, S., & Evans, J. S. B. T. (2009) Effects of mood on syllogistic reasoning. Poster presented at the Psychology Postgraduate Affairs Group Annual Conference, Cardiff
Zahra, D., Handley, S. J., Schnall, S., & Evans, J. S. B. T. (2009) Concurrent and integral mood effects in reasoning. Poster presented at the 1st Annual University of Plymouth Department of Psychology Postgraduate and Staff Conference, Plymouth
Zahra, D., Handley, S. J., Schnall, S., & Evans, J. S. B. T. (2009) Are the systems governing emotion and reasoning interaction maladaptive? Poster presented at the London Evolutionary Network Conference, The Natural History Museum, London
Resources
Zahra (2010) RCI Calculator [DOWNLOAD]
Links
Current Research: http://daniel-zahra.webs.com/