Comparison of Personality Characteristics and Academic Achievement of Dental Hygiene Students in Two Degree Programs - A Thesis

Sep 17, 2026

Uploaded by Mack Lee

A thesis investigates the relationship between personality characteristics and academic achievement among dental hygiene students enrolled in two degree programs. The study frames its rationale within changing allied health education priorities, focusing on admissions standards, retention concerns, and the limitations of relying solely on cognitive/academic measures. It identifies the sample, details data collection and survey instruments, and analyzes results using grade point averages and personality measures to evaluate differences between student groups.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages94

Reading Time3 h 57 min

AccessFree to download

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER II REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY

CHAPTER IV DATA ANALYSIS

CHAPTER V SUMMARY, DISCUSSION, AND CONCLUSIONS

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

SUMMARY OF ORAL PRESENTATION TO SUBJECTS

APPENDIX A SUBJECTS

APPENDIX B CONSENT FORM, MBTI PURPOSE AND SAMPLE ITEMS

APPENDIX C CAREER EMPLOYMENT QUESTIONNAIRE

APPENDIX D

APPENDIX E SUMMARY OF STANDARDIZED MBTI TYPE DESCRIPTIONS

APPENDIX F LIST OF TABLES

# COMPARISON OF PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS AND ACADEMICACHIEVEMENT OF DENTAL HYGIENE STUDENTSIN TWO DEGREE PROGRAMS A Thesis Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirementsfor the Degree Master of Science by Connie Lee Sylvester,R.D.H.,B.A.The Ohio State University1979 Approved by Nuuyup School of A1lied MedicalProfessions ## ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my heart-felt appreciationto al1 who made this study possible. I am especiallygrateful for the assistance of the following: Dr.Nancy Reynolds,my advisor and friend. Trulyher support and encouragement made this effort and thisyear possible. Drs.David Broski,Ayres D'Costa,and Mary Gnezda,who served on my graduate committee,and who al1 enthu-siastically encouraged my research efforts. Dr.Larry Sachs,who generously gave of his time toassist in the design of the statistical analyses of thisstudy. And a special thanks to the dental hygiene studentsat the Ohio State University whose cooperation and par-ticipation gave this study meaning. ## TABLE OF CONTENTS PageACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . .ii ·LIST OF TABLESCHAPTERIINTRODUCTION . . .. . . . . . . 1Problem Statement and Importance of the Study . · . . . . . . 3Purpose. . . . . . . · . . 7Limitations and Assumptions . · .8Organization . · · · · · · ·9Career Development Theories . . . 11Student Selection/Student Character-istics in A1lied Health . . . 15Professional Training and Pro-fessional Practice . . .. . 25Summary · · · · · · ·. . 29III METHODOLOGY . . . . .. . 31Sample . · · · · · . .. 32Data Collection Methodology .. 32Survey Instruments . · · .. 34Grade Point Averages . · .35Data Analysis Methodology . .. 36IV DATA ANALYSIS. . . . . . . .40 II ]REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE. . . . . . 11 Description of the Sample . . · . 40Results of Career Employment Questionnaire. . . . . . . 42Results of MBTI Questionnaire . . 45Grade Point Average Analysis . . . 53 CHAPTER ## V SUMMARY,DISCUSSION,AND CONCLUS IONS Summary ………………………………………… Discussion . . . . . Implications · · · . 57 . 57 . 61 . 63 66 Conclusions . . . . · · Recommendations . . . 67 SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY . 69 ··· SUMMARY OF ORAL PRESENTATION TO APPENDIX A SUBJECTS . . . 78 APPENDIX B CONSENT FORM . . MBTI PURPOSE AND SAMPLE ITEMS. . . 80 APPENDIX C CAREER EMPLOYMENT QUESTIONNA IRE . . 83 APPENDIX D APPENDIX E SUMMARY OF STANDARDIZED MBTI TYPE DESCRIPTIONS . . . . . . . .85 MBTI DATA ON DENTAL HYGIENISTS . . 88 APPENDIX F LIST OF TA BLES Page TABLE 1DEGREE PROGRAM ENROLLMENT.. . . 42 COMPARISON OF RANKED CAREER PREFERENCESOF STUDENTS IN TWO DEGREE PROGRAMS . . . 44 MBTI TYPE TABLE DISTRIBUTION FOR TOTALSAMPLE DENTAL HYGIENE STUDENTS . . . . 46 COMPARATIVE MBTI TYPE TABLE DISTRIBUTION:ARTS/SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.. . . . . 48 TYPE TABLE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ARTS/SCIENCE AND EDUCATION: CALCULATEDVALUES OF CHI SQUARE. . .49 FREQUENCIES,PROPORTIONS,MEAN PREFER-ENCE SCORES OF EIGHT INDICES OF MBTIPREFERENCES. . . . . . . . 50 TYPE PREFERENCE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ARTS/SCIENCE AND EDUCATION: CALCULATED VALUESOF CHI SQUARE. · . . . .. . . . 52 COMPARATIVE MBTI TYPE GROUPINGS BETWEENARTS/SCIENCE AND EDUCATION. . . . 54 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION An increased emphasis on health care,brought aboutin part by federal funding for allied health education inthe late 1960's and in part by the "relative rise of healthservices in the hierarchy of consumer preferences"(Green-field,1968,p.1543),has resulted in a high national in-terest in the health professions. In addition to break-throughs in new scientific information and new technologyin medical related fields,the demand for quality healthcare by the public and new

FAQs

What is the main focus of the thesis?

The thesis compares personality characteristics and academic achievement of dental hygiene students across two degree programs.

Why does the study emphasize student selection and retention?

It highlights that admissions committees set academic standards, but evidence suggests academic measures alone may not predict completion and long-term satisfaction, making retention an important concern.

How are academic outcomes and personality traits analyzed?

The study uses grade point averages for academic achievement analysis and survey instruments for personality characteristics, reporting results across the defined student groups.

Sep 17, 2026

Uploaded by Mack Lee