Table 1 Factors in empirical research on diagnostic reasoning.

Subjects studied

Experts [5], outstanding physicians [2], physicians-at-risk [6], "typical physicians" [7], learners [10] with differing levels of expertise.

Clinical information provided

Sequential text fragments [8], x-rays [9, 5], pictures [10] (e.g. dermatology [11], pathology), standardized patients [2], other simulations [12].

Products of reasoning analyzed

Diagnostic success [13], items collected [4, 14], recall [15, 16], reflection, "thinking aloud", introspection [5]