In recruitment, the multiple mini-interview (MMI)[1] is an interview format that uses many short independent assessments, typically in a timed circuit, to obtain an aggregate score of each candidate's soft skills.
In 2001, the McMaster University Medical School began developing the MMI system, to address two widely recognized problems.
First, it has been shown that traditional interview formats or simulations of educational situations do not accurately predict performance in medical school.
Meta-analysis of the human resource literature has demonstrated low to moderate ability of interviews to predict for future job performance.
High overall test reliability (0.81) led to a larger study conducted in 2002 on real medical school candidates, many of whom volunteered after their standard interview to stay for the MMI.
Overall test reliability remained high,[1] and subsequent follow-up through medical school and on to national licensure examination (Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination Parts I and II) revealed the MMI to be the best predictor for subsequent clinical performance,[5][7] professionalism,[6] and ability to communicate with patients and successfully obtain national licensure.