U.S. Dental Students’ Attitudes Toward Research and Science: Impact of Research Experience
Abstract
This study aimed to provide a first nationwide assessment of dental students’ attitudes toward the importance of research and its integration into the dental curriculum. For this purpose, the American Association for Dental Research National Student Research Group developed an online survey that was distributed to 89 percent of U.S. dental students in May 2012. The survey consisted of twenty–one Likert–type items divided into three groups: importance of research in dentistry, barriers to research involvement, and exposure to research in the dental curriculum. There were 733 responses (3.9 percent response rate), including students in all stages of education representing fifty–eight out of sixty–one dental schools. Age and race/ethnic distributions corresponded with U.S. dental school enrollees. Results showed that 63 percent of respondents had conducted research before matriculation, and of the 34 percent that participated in research during dental school, only 27 percent were newcomers. Respondents strongly agreed that scientific research enabled their progress in dentistry. Inadequate time in the curriculum was an obstacle they perceived to research involvement during dental school. Respondents agreed that dental curricula emphasize evidence–based practices but may be inadequately teaching biostatistics and research methodologies. Students with research experience tended to have stronger positive opinions about the importance of research in dental education. Efforts to foster research in schools have been well received by students, but several issues remain for enriching dental education through greater involvement of students in research.
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The literature rarely included detailed qualitative methodology to understand the details and contexts of student research obstacles.
“Second, the literature in this area rarely included detailed qualitative methodology, which is vital if we are to understand the details and contexts of student research obstacles.”
From Barriers faced by undergraduate dental students when conducting research: a qualitative study (2025) · cites this paper as [9]
Research focused specifically on the barriers to research faced by undergraduate dental students is limited, and all existing studies on this topic are quantitative excluding one.
“Research focused specifically on the barriers to research faced by undergraduate dental students is limited [8–11] and all of the existing studies on this topic are quantitative excluding one [8] in which data was collected through the use of closed and open-ended questions.”
From Barriers faced by undergraduate dental students when conducting research: a qualitative study (2025) · cites this paper as [9]
Previous studies of student research barriers were designed to elicit opinions and perceptions of what a barrier is and the significance of these barriers from students.
“Third, previous studies of student research barriers were designed to elicit opinions and perceptions of what a barrier is and the significance of these barriers from students [8–11].”
From Barriers faced by undergraduate dental students when conducting research: a qualitative study (2025) · cites this paper as [9]
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- Authors
- Holman, S. D., Wietecha, M. S., Gullard, A., & Peterson, J. M. B.
- Affiliations
- University of Maryland, Baltimore (US)
- University of Illinois Chicago (US)
- University of Alabama at Birmingham (US)
- Medical University of South Carolina (US)
- Corresponding author
- Holman, Shaina Devi
- ORCID
- Wietecha, Mateusz S.
- Venue
- Journal of Dental Education
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2014-03
- Volume
- 78
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 334-348
- ISSN
- 0022-0337 (ISSN-L)
- 1930-7837
- OpenAlex
- W2404581042
- Cited by
- 38
- References
- 30
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 1
- FWCI
- 3.61
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Dental Education (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Dental Education, Practice, Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Health and Medical Research Impacts
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health Sciences Research and Education
- Keywords
- dental students, attitudes toward research, research experience, dental curriculum, barriers to research participation, biostatistics education, research methods instruction, evidence-based practice, undergraduate research, student research participation
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Attitude of Health Personnel, Curriculum, Education, Dental, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Puerto Rico, Research Design, Science, Students, Dental, Time Factors, United States, Dental Research, Evidence-Based Dentistry, Young Adult, Biostatistics
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