ABSTRACT
It is well recognized that assessment has an important role in the teaching and learning process. In this chapter we consider the role of assessment in the undergraduate training of health practitioners, in the fields of nursing, health promotion and environmental health, but our comments apply equally to most social science courses. Research assessment can be a valuable tool in enhancing student motivation and consolidating student learning. Innovative assessment not only assists in student learning, it can also guide teachers in continually refining a curriculum that is relevant to the professional competencies recognized as essential components of practitioner training. Employing a variety of assessment tasks provides students with a rigorous framework from which to learn, use, practise and evaluate health research.
