Dental students' perceptions of the difficulty of faculty positions.

How undergraduate dental students at Dalhousie University perceive various aspects of the positions held by faculty members was determined by responses on a 20-item questionnaire. Comparisons of item responses by students' class year, age group, marital status, sex, and perceived class standing generally produced a similar rank order of questionnaire items. Students perceived faculty positions that involved a high degree of administrative responsibility as being more difficult than preclinical instruction and part-time faculty positions. Research was perceived by students to be of low importance to faculty. It is important to consider the various perceptions that students hold regarding faculty positions if changes are planned to improve the teaching environment. A wide divergence between the perception held by faculty and students regarding the difficulties of a faculty position may hinder optimum student-faculty relationships.