Dr Daniel Zahra

I am currently Associate Professor of Assessment and Psychometrics at the University of Plymouth Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry (Faculty of Health), supporting assessment and research across all medical and dental programmes.

Working alongside amazing colleagues, I am involved in a diverse range of projects across three broad themes; assessment, equality, and integration, combining my interests in psychology, philosophy, and education. My recent work, interests, and publications can be found at https://daniel-zahra.com

Qualifications

2008-2013 PhD "How Does Emotion Affect Reasoning?"
2007-2008 MSc Psychological Research Methods
2004-2007 BSc (Honours) Psychology

Professional membership

Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society (CPsychol)
Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society (AFBPsP)
Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA)
Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society (inc. Registered Data Analyst)
Academy of Medical Educators, AoME (FAcadMEd)

Association for Medical Education in Europe, AMEE
Association for Dental Education in Europe, ADEE
Association for the Study of Medical Education , ASME
International Association for Dental Researchers, IADR
British Society for Oral and Dental Research, BSODR
Association of Science Educators in Dentistry, ASEiD
Community and Primary Care Research Group (University of Plymouth)
Division of Education and Scholarship (University of Plymouth)
Collaboration for the Advancement of Medical Education Research, CAMERa
International Network for Health Workforce Education, INHWE
Plymouth Institute of Health and Care Research, PIHR
Carers and Parents Network, University of Plymouth
Collaboration for Compassion in Healthcare Education, University of Plymouth
LGBT+ Allies Network, University of Plymouth
Faculty Research Ethics and Integrity Committee (University of Plymouth Faculty of Health)

Roles on external bodies

I am an active member of the Royal Statistical Society 'Statisticians for Society' programme; a pro bono scheme connecting professional statisticians and charitable organisations, as well as begin involved in projects and initiatives ran by the organisations listed above of which I am a member or affiliate.

Teaching interests

I mostly employ my skills an expertise in the teaching of statistics and research methods across the programmes in the medical and dental schools, but am also involved in teaching related to my psychology background as well.

My pedagogic interests included all aspects of integrated educational and the benefits and challenges of such undertakings; assessment, standard setting, formats, delivery, the underlying assumptions; and widening participation, equality of access, encouraging participation across higher education and beyond.

Research interests

I am involved in a diverse range of projects across three broad themes; assessment, equality, and integration, combining my interests in psychology, philosophy, and education. My recent work, other research interests, and publications can be found at https://daniel-zahra.com

Research degrees awarded to supervised students

Consulting and specialist analysis and design supervision for, among others:

Sebastian Stevens’ ‘Exploring the influence of social relationships on multisource feedback assessments for UK General Practitioners: A Social Network Analysis’ (2021)

Rebecca Baines’ ‘Can the value and acceptability of a patient feedback tool for revalidating psychiatrists be improved for both patients and psychiatrists through its co-production? An action research approach.’ (2021)

Nicole Thomas’ ‘Autism and Primary Care Dentistry: parents’ experiences of taking children with autism for dental examinations’ (2022)

Grants & contracts

Zahra, D., Glanville, R., Manly, M., Pinter, G., Kisielewska, J., and Butler, T. (2022)  A Comparison of the psychometric properties and pedagogic value of correct-incorrect and elimination marking in single-best-answer multiple choice assessments. Peninsula Medical School Education Award, awarded by the Division of Education and Scholarship,

Zahra, D., Glanville, R., Millin, P., and Manly, M. (2021) Teaching, Learning, and Assessment in Dentistry: Module development including teaching materials and assessment tasks. Medical University of Lodz, Poland.

Creative practice & artistic projects

‘Deer’, 16 x 12in (40.6 x 30.5cm), oil on canvas. Exhibited for sale as part of the Rowan Charity Art Exhibition to raise funds for Rowan arts centre and forest school for adults with learning disabilities; Cambridge, 2022.

‘Kandyan Fire-Eater’, 18 x 14in (45.7 x 35.6cm), oil on canvas. Piece created and exhibited for sale as part of the Freedom Exhibition to raise funds for Young Epilepsy and Mind; Online, 2021.

Images of Research 2020, featuring a submission in collaboration with Jane Collingwood and Cathy Coelho based on development and evaluation of 3D-printed teeth. Our submission won 2nd prize (£100) for 'Best Photographic Image' in the public vote as part of the University of Plymouth Research Festival 2020. The image also features in the University of Plymouth Diversity and Wellbeing Calendar for 2020/21 (End section image).

Images of Research 2019, featuring submissions from our trip to Boston to meet with programme teams from Harvard and Tufts Universities. One of our submissions is featured in the University of Plymouth Diversity and Wellbeing Calendar for 2019/20 (August).

I am also an artist of the Brooklyn Art Library (New York), supporting community based initiatives and fundraising activities there.

Links

My recent work, research interests, and publications can be found at https://daniel-zahra.com