[Situational judgement test as teaching method for the critical discussion on scientific practice and misconduct].

Scientific competence and decision-making processes are key qualifications in undergraduate medical education and should be integrated into medical studies from the very beginning. The aim of the study was to convey the topics of good scientific practice and scientific misconduct. Furthermore, the methodological intervention "group discussion" enabled a productive reflection in the context of scientific appropriateness. For this purpose, the situational judgement test (SJT) was employed at different didactic activity levels of students (N = 743) (individually and as a group). The rating results were compared with the answers of experts (N = 23). Following group discussions, the answers of students shifted (distribution and order of answer options) towards those of the experts; however, students were more likely to choose response options that implied seeking help, allowing a passive stance and transferring responsibility. Overall, the SJT was a successful didactic intervention. The students actively reviewed the topics, discussed the subjects deeply and thereby critically reflected their own behavior.