Evaluating attitude change in community dental service programs in Minnesota, U.S.A

Attitude changes of students participating in two community service programs at the University of Minnesota were evaluated using the semantic differential technique. Program I, a single day clinical experience at a state institution for the mentally retarded, involved 170 students; Program II, a 1-week clinical program in dental auxiliary utilization, involved 30 students. For each program, semantic differentials were designed to elicit scaled evauative responses toward concepts such as mental retardation and dentistry which were important to program objectives. Scales were administered in a pretest, post-test design. Statistically significant differences were noted for seven of eight target concepts, and appropriate attitude changes were inferred from these differences. Design of community programs and evaluation of desired attitude change using the semantic differential were discussed.