Acquiring psychomotor skills in operative dentistry: do innate ability and motivation matter?

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dc.contributor.authorSuksudaj, N.
dc.contributor.authorTownsend, G.
dc.contributor.authorKaidonis, J.
dc.contributor.authorLekkas, D.
dc.contributor.authorWinning, T.
dc.date.issued2012
dc.description.abstract<h4>Objective</h4>The acquisition of psychomotor skills is a key competence in the practice of dentistry, and innate abilities and motivation have been shown to influence motor performance. However, the explicit integration of these factors into the design of research projects about skill acquisition in dentistry has been limited. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to provide a comprehensive analysis of how dental students' abilities and motivation affected their performance in an operative task.<h4>Methods</h4>A longitudinal study with two cohorts of dental students was conducted in laboratory classes forming part of an operative technique course. A range of standardised psychometric tests was used to assess different abilities before completing a cavity preparation on Frasaco teeth. This was followed immediately by completion of an Intrinsic Motivation Inventory.<h4>Results</h4>Low but statistically significant correlations (P<0.05) were found between dental performance and psychomotor ability (r=0.22), and also dental performance and motivation (r=0.19). A significant difference (P<0.05) was found in the grades obtained for the cavity preparation exercise in one cohort between students with higher levels of psychomotor ability compared with those with lower levels (Tracing scores) (P<0.05). No significant differences in grades obtained for the cavity preparation exercise were found between students with higher and lower levels of motivation.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Both innate psychomotor ability and motivation showed only weak positive associations with dental performance on cavity preparation exercises. Our study suggests that student-related factors only provide limited information to explain differences in performance or to be useful as specific predictors of future performance by individuals.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityN. Suksudaj, G. C. Townsend, J. Kaidonis, D. Lekkas and T. A. Winning
dc.identifier.citationEuropean Journal of Dental Education, 2012; 16(1):E187-E194
dc.identifier.doi10.1111/j.1600-0579.2011.00696.x
dc.identifier.issn1396-5883
dc.identifier.issn1600-0579
dc.identifier.orcidKaidonis, J. [0000-0003-0415-5272]
dc.identifier.orcidLekkas, D. [0000-0002-5142-7333]
dc.identifier.orcidWinning, T. [0000-0001-7684-3168]
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/70373
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherBlackwell Munksgaard
dc.rights© 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0579.2011.00696.x
dc.subjectpsychomotor skills
dc.subjectinnate ability
dc.subjectmotivation
dc.subjectskill acquisition
dc.subjectskill learning.
dc.titleAcquiring psychomotor skills in operative dentistry: do innate ability and motivation matter?
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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