Dr. Kevin Volkan

Professor of Psychology

Program in Psychology

California State University Channel Islands 

Rm 206, Professional Building, University Drive, Camarillo, CA, 93012 805-437-8867 kevin.volkan@csuci.edu

 Back to Psychology Main Page

Research

Teaching and Publications
My research is focused on the assessment of professional performance among physicians and medical students. This research is interdisciplinary drawing from cognitive and social psychology as well as information technology and quantitative methods. I believe this is an important work where psychology can contribute positive solutions.

This research is highly quantitative in nature and draw from a wide variety of statistical techniques ranging from ANCOVA to non-linear regression analysis (generalized additive models). I have an interest in biostatistics and this has introduced me to a number of useful statistical techniques. These techniques include logistic regression, survival analysis, non-linear regression, etc., which are not usually emphasized or even taught in psychology programs. Nevertheless, these techniques have proven to be extremely useful in social science research. I have also done a great deal of work with structural equation modeling using LISREL and more recently AMOS (which is also a great teaching tool).

My past research has been on the psychology of drug use and drug addiction. This work culminated in a book on the subject published in 1994. Throughout my career I have maintained an interest in psychoanalysis and the psychology of the unconscious, and Asian Studies. I hope to spend more time working in these areas at CSUCI, through both the courses I teach and collaborative research with my colleagues.

  

Courses Taught 2003-2004

PSY 339 – Psychopathology & Literature

PSY 344 – Psychology & Traditional Asian Thought

PSY 436 – History & Psychology of East Asian Warrior Cultures

Selected Publications

Volkan, K., Simon, S., Baker, H., & Todres, I.D. (2004). Psychometric Structure of a Comprehensive Objective Structured Clinical Examination: A Factor Analytic Approach. Advances in Health Sciences Education, 9 (2): 83-92.

 

Simon SR, Volkan K, Hamann C, Duffey C, Fletcher SW. (2002) The relationship between second-year medical students' OSCE scores and USMLE Step 1 scores. Medical Teacher, (5):535-539.

 

Hamann, C., Volkan, K., Fishman, M., Silvestri ,R, Simon, S., & Fletcher, S. (2001). Which skills do second-year medical students learn best in physical diagnosis? Perspectives from three years of an Objective Structured Clinical Examination. BioMedCentral-Medical Education, (2)1, 1-11.

 

Lieberman G, Abramson, RG, Volkan, K., McArdle P. (2001). Tutor versus computer: A prospective comparison of interactive tutorial and computer-assisted instruction in radiology education. Academic Radiology, (9)1, 40-49.

 

Morag E, Lieberman G, Volkan K, &  Lang E. (2001). Clinical    competence Assessment in Radiology: Introduction of an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) in the Medical School Curriculum. Academic Radiology, 8(1), 74-81.

 

Volkan, K. (1994). Dancing among the Maenads: The psychology of compulsive drug use. New York, NY: Peter Lang Publishing.

 

Click here for CV