An analysis of behavioral contingencies in clinical teaching.

Principles of a contingency management were applied in analyzing student reports on clinical instruction. In behavioral science, a contingency is a relationship between a behavior and its effect. The analysis identifies contingencies arranged by clinical instructors that unintentionally interfere with learning. The faculty responded to the findings by planing changes to overcome the problems identified. Prior to the study, many of the problems uncovered were not recognized by the faculty. Students are usually not open about such sensitives areas of feedback. If dental faculty members of other institutions do not feel that similar findings apply to their schools, the authors recommend that they conduct an analogous study.