ABSTRACT
There are a few essential definitions for objective assessment ( Box 2 ).
There are several validated methods for objective assessment that measure abilities, skills, tasks, and/or procedures ( Table 1 ). Some of these methods will be reviewed in detail later in this chapter. Only a few of the existing methods evaluate fundamental abilities or total procedures; the majority assess the same or similar technical skills and complex tasks, and therefore can be expected to provide a basis for comparison of results. There are a few abilities and skills, such as haptic aptitude or tissue handling, that are considered important, for which there are no validated methods of assessment.
