Comparison of personal values among freshman and senior dental students and dental faculty

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to test the effects of dental education on the values of dental students and dental faculty. This was accomplished by testing five hypotheses. The results of the study indicate no significant differences between freshmen and senior students' values; infer no apparent changes in student values during a dental education; indicate no significant differences between part-time faculty and full-time faculty; support a positive association among all groups, i.e., freshmen, seniors, full- and part-time faculty; rank-order the values for all groups from highest to lowest (theoretical, aesthetic, political, economic, social, and religious); and show some significant differences between students as a group and faculty as a group. If a more objective means of choosing dental students is desired, then further research will be needed to determine the characteristics of the type of practitioner that is needed. The presented data help in defining one aspect of the collective personality of dental students and dental faculties.