Decision-making styles of dietitians

Four decision-making styles (technician, planner, teacher, artist) were distinguished with Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) results for 61 dietitians and 55 dietetic students. The "technician" style (impersonal, matter-of-fact analysis expressed in technical skills) was preferred to other styles by the greatest percentage of subjects studied. Subgroups of clinical dietitians, those 40 years old or older, and dietetic internship graduates preferred the "technical" style that is related to academic achievement in applied and physical sciences. Dietitians in administration, consulting, education, and public health indicated a preference for the "artistic" style (an insightful approach to possibilities expressed in an ability to communicate well with others). CUP graduates indicated the most diversity in style preferences. The "planner" style identified with researchers was preferred to the "artistic" style by students. Available data from groups of dietitians studied by other investigators supported these findings and indicated similarities among dietitians, school administrators, and medical technicians. Comparison between students in this and other samples indicated more differences than similarities, which may be due to differences in programs. Since all styles are useful within the profession, it is suggested that the identification and adaptation of style be included in education programs for dietetic students and practitioners.