Psychological Reports, 1991, 69, 331-335.
O Psychological Reports 1991
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CAREER AGE AND RESEARCH PRODUCTIVITY FOR ACADEMIC DENTISTS ' JAMES E. JONES
WAYNE P. JONES
College of Dentistry UniversiQ of Tennessee
Department of Educational Foundorions Marquette University GERALD C. PREUSZ
Schools of Edilcation and Dentistry Indiana University Summary.-The purpose of this investigation was to assess the effects of aging (career age) and research performance for fidl-r~meclinical dental faculty. The 489 tespondents represented a response rate of 71 3% from a 40% stratified random sample of faculty. Respondents reported a mean number of years in full-time dental education of 10.7 (range = 1 to 45, SD = 7.7) and mean number of career publications of 11.1 (range = 0 to 110, SD = 15.2). A significant positive association of career age and life-time research productivity was observed. A significant positive association of career age and mean two-year research productivity was also noted. Implications of the findings were discussed with respect to similar studies reported for other academic disciplines.
Although investigations report both positive and negative effects of ageing on research productivity for many disciplines within higher education (Pelz & Andrews, 1966; Bess, 1973; U s o n & Stewart, 1974; Bayer & Dutton, 1977; Cole, 1979; Baldwen & Blackburn, 1981; Creswell, Patterson, & Barnes, 1984), research indicates that aging reflects generally positive effects on productivity for academic dentists (Jones, Preusz, & Finkelstein, 1989). Although this positive relationship has been observed, little information exists concerning the "age curve" best describing career age and research productivity for academic dentists. Bayer and Dutton (1977) employed six alternative theoretical models to ascertain the relationship between career age and total number of published articles for 5,079 faculty holding the Ph.D. in seven selected physical science, engineering, biological science, and social science fields. For the group, analysis gave a strong (positive) linear relationship with career age. However, for some fields, a nonlinear function provided a more appropriate representation of the actual association. This finding emphasized an inability to apply interdisciplinary statements concerning the association of career age and research productivity. This cross-sectional investigation examined career age and research productivity for clinical faculty in 66 United States and Canadian schools of dentistry to identify the "age curve" best describing this relationship. 'Please forward requests for reprints to Dr. James E. Jones, University of Tennessee, College of Dentistry, 875 Union Avenue, Memphis, TN 38163.
J. E. JONES, ETAL.
METHOD The participants were dental faculty listed in the 1989-1990 Directory of Dental Educators teaching in the 66 United States and Canadian schools of dentistry (American Association of Dental Schools, 1989). Faculty in the sample included only individuals whose primary academic responsibility was teaching and who were (1) employed full time and held either the D.M.D. or D.D.S. degree or the foreign equivalent, (2) teaching in a clinical department of the dental school, and (3) not departmental chairpersons or administrators (assistant dean, associate dean, or dean). A simple 40% stratified random sample of eligible faculty in each of the 66 schools, consisting of 686 faculty, was identified in an effort to obtain adequate numbers of faculty within each identified age group. A comprehensive survey instrument was developed evaluating factors associated with individual faculty productivity. I n the present study, the following variables were evaluated for each respondent: (1) number of years in full-time dental education (career age), (2) total number of articles in refereed journals and book chapters the respondents had published during their academic careers, and (3) total number of articles in refereed journals and book chapters the respondents had published during the previous two years. Not included in the publication numbers were (1) abstracts of articles in journals, (2) abstracts of papers presented at meetings, (3) articles or book chapters submitted or accepted for publication but not yet in print, (4) book reviews, and (5) editorials. During the fall of 1990, a survey packet was mailed to each subject. Each packet included a covering letter describing the nature of the research, a coded survey instrument, and a postage-paid return envelope. When the survey was returned, the code number was recorded. After one month, a second mailing was made to those individuals not responding to the initial request. Data collection was concluded 10 weeks after the initial mailing of the survey instrument. A total of 489 usable surveys were obtained, producing a final response rate of 71.3% (489 of 686). A comparison, made between on-time and late mailings on demographic characteristics, indicated no significant differences between mean responses of the on-time and late respondents.
RESULTS Respondents reported a mean number of years in full-time dental education of 10.7 (range 1 to 45, SD = 7.7) and a mean number of career publications of 11.1 (range 0 to 110, SD = 15.2). Table 1 gives a summary of an analysis of variance, showing a significant positive association of career age and life-time research productivity. Of special importance is the continued increase in number of publications for individuals 21 years and above.
333
CAREER AGE AND RESEARCH PRODUCTIVITY TABLE 1
ANALYSIS OF VARIANCEOF MEANNUMBER OF LEE-TIME PUBLICATIONS BY CAREER AGE Years in Full-time Dental Education
No. of Respondents
1-5 6-10 11-15 16-20 221 Totalt
152 121 90 65 48 476
No. of Publications*
M
SD
Range
3.38 10.21 10.78 12.69 26.90
5.44 10.95 12.52 12.70 26.93
0-35 0-65 0-70 0-50 0-110
*Fa,,,, = 32.16, p < ,0001. ?Total does not equal 489 because nonresponse is evident.
In Table 2 a significant positive association of career age and mean two-year research productivity may be seen. Data suggest a bimodal relationship, with the first peak occurring during a career age of 6 to 10 yr. and the second peak at 21 yr. and above. TABLE 2 ANALYSIS OF VARIANCE OF MEANTWO-YEAR RESEARCH P R O D U BY C CAREER ~ AGE Yean in Full-time Dental Education
No. of Respondents
No. of Publicationst
M
1-5 152 1.98 3.09 6-10 12 1 90 2.17 11-15 16-20 65 1.69 221 48 3.06 Totalt 476 *F,,4,,= 3.60, p < ,007. tTotal does not equal 489 because nonresponse is evident.
.,
SD
Ranee
2.77 3.39 3.26 2.43 4.20
0-15 0-15 0-20 0-10 0-20
DISCUSSION In the present investigation, a significant positive association between career age (number of years in full-time dental education) and individual faculty's research productivity was noted. Bayer and Dutton (1977) related that, if there are few or no generational effects (the drive to publish, emphasis on publication, and the success in publishing over time), then the plot of the number of life-time publications by age for cohort data could not turn downward but, at a maximum, only reach plateau at the upper ages. Conversely, "an actual downturn in life-time productivity of an older cohort against a younger cohort would reflect generational effects, regardless of what effects aging itself might have on publication productivity" (p. 268). Present results may be attributed to several factors concerning career research productivity for academic dentists in today's academic environment. Albino (1984) stated that, during the 1960s, universities accepted the fact
334
J. E. JONES, ETAL.
that dental faculty in clinical disciplines possessed considerable practical experience, but had little appreciation for the academic traditions of scholarship and publication. Today, however, academic dentistry is experiencing change in response to recent trends in dental education. From 1975 to 1987, the number of applicants to dental schools has decreased from 15,732 to 5,397, a 65% decline. Projections have indicated that first-year enrollment will fall to 3,170 in 1996, a 50% decline from 1979 (Solomon & Stoll, 1988). The dramatic reduction in students, combined with reduced federal support and a 64% tenure rate among dental faculty, has required academic dentistry to adapt to the changing demographic characteristics in dental education (Solomon & Stoll, 1986). University administrators are clarifying missions and planning long-term directions for their institutions. This process increasingly places emphasis on the research mission of the institution. The bimodal relationship between mean 2-yr. research productivity and career age demonstrated by these data has been reported for other academic disciplines (Pelz & Andrews, 1966; Bayer & Dutton, 1977; Krumland, Will, & Gorry, 1979). Bayer and Dutton (1977) described this relationship representing the observed rise and fall in research productivity throughout one's career as a "spirt-obsolescence curve," which best described five of seven disciplines they evaluated. The decline in productivity in midcareer has been attributed to reduced motivation to do research and devoting less time to research (Creswell, 1985). The resurgence in productivity during the later career years may be associated with changing market conditions (Bayer & Dutton, 1977) or the continued participation in research of the most productive members of the cohort (Creswell, Patterson, & Barnes, 1984). Alternatively, more productive faculty may be placed in administrative assignments within their institutions during the second half of their careers, returning to faculty positions again at the end of their careers (Bayer & Dutton, 1977). Results of this study show that senior dental faculty continue to be productive members of the academic community. REFERENCES Ammo, J. E. (1984) Scholarship and dental education: new perspectives for clinical faculty. lournal of Dental Education, 48, 509-513. hrsoN, P. D., & STEWART,J. A. (1974) Productivity differences among scientists: evidence for accumulative advantage. American Sociological Review, 39, 596-606. AMERICANASSOCIATION OF DENTAL SCHOOLS.(1989) Directory of dental educators. Washington, DC: Association. BALDWEN,R. G., & BLACKBURN,R. T. (1981) The academic career as a developmental process. Journal of Higher Education, 52, 598-614. B A ~A., E., & DUTCON, J. E. (1977) Career age and research-professional activities of academic scientists. lournal of Higher Education, 48, 259-282. BESS,J. L. (1973) Integrating Faculty and student life cycles. Review of Edrrcational Research, 43, 377-403. (1979) Age and scientific performance. American Journal of Sociology, 84, 958-977. CRESWELL, J. W. (1985) Faculiy research performance: lessons from the sciences and !he roc~alsci-
COLE, S.
CAREER AGE AND RESEARCH PRODUCTIVITY
335
ences. Wash~ngron,DC: Association for the Study of Higher Education. (ASHE-ERIC Higher Educotlon Report No. 4) CRESWELL, J. W., PAT~ERSON, R. A., & BARNES, M. W. (1984) Enhancing faculty research productivity. Paper read at Association for the Study of Higher Education, March, Chicago. G ., C., & FINKELSTEN, S. N. (1989) Factors associated with clinical facJONES,J. E., ~ E U S Z ulty research productivity. Journal of Dental Education, 53, 638-645. KRUMLAND, R. B., WILL, E. E., & GORRY,G. A. (1979) Scientific publications of a medical school faculty. Journal ofMedica1 Education, 54, 876-884. PELZ,D. C., & ANDREWS, F. H . (1966) Scientists in organizations: productive climates for research and development. N e w York Wiley. Pp. 271-274. SOLOMON, E. S., & STOLL,D. G (1986) Dental school faculty 1985-1986 characteristics and academic degree. Journal o/ Denrol Education, 50, 282-286. SOLOMON, E. S., & STOLL,D. G. (1988) Federal report predicts manpower decline. Journal of Dental Education, 52, 486-489. Accepted August 15, 1991
O Psychological Reports 1991
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CAREER AGE AND RESEARCH PRODUCTIVITY FOR ACADEMIC DENTISTS ' JAMES E. JONES
WAYNE P. JONES
College of Dentistry UniversiQ of Tennessee
Department of Educational Foundorions Marquette University GERALD C. PREUSZ
Schools of Edilcation and Dentistry Indiana University Summary.-The purpose of this investigation was to assess the effects of aging (career age) and research performance for fidl-r~meclinical dental faculty. The 489 tespondents represented a response rate of 71 3% from a 40% stratified random sample of faculty. Respondents reported a mean number of years in full-time dental education of 10.7 (range = 1 to 45, SD = 7.7) and mean number of career publications of 11.1 (range = 0 to 110, SD = 15.2). A significant positive association of career age and life-time research productivity was observed. A significant positive association of career age and mean two-year research productivity was also noted. Implications of the findings were discussed with respect to similar studies reported for other academic disciplines.
Although investigations report both positive and negative effects of ageing on research productivity for many disciplines within higher education (Pelz & Andrews, 1966; Bess, 1973; U s o n & Stewart, 1974; Bayer & Dutton, 1977; Cole, 1979; Baldwen & Blackburn, 1981; Creswell, Patterson, & Barnes, 1984), research indicates that aging reflects generally positive effects on productivity for academic dentists (Jones, Preusz, & Finkelstein, 1989). Although this positive relationship has been observed, little information exists concerning the "age curve" best describing career age and research productivity for academic dentists. Bayer and Dutton (1977) employed six alternative theoretical models to ascertain the relationship between career age and total number of published articles for 5,079 faculty holding the Ph.D. in seven selected physical science, engineering, biological science, and social science fields. For the group, analysis gave a strong (positive) linear relationship with career age. However, for some fields, a nonlinear function provided a more appropriate representation of the actual association. This finding emphasized an inability to apply interdisciplinary statements concerning the association of career age and research productivity. This cross-sectional investigation examined career age and research productivity for clinical faculty in 66 United States and Canadian schools of dentistry to identify the "age curve" best describing this relationship. 'Please forward requests for reprints to Dr. James E. Jones, University of Tennessee, College of Dentistry, 875 Union Avenue, Memphis, TN 38163.
J. E. JONES, ETAL.
METHOD The participants were dental faculty listed in the 1989-1990 Directory of Dental Educators teaching in the 66 United States and Canadian schools of dentistry (American Association of Dental Schools, 1989). Faculty in the sample included only individuals whose primary academic responsibility was teaching and who were (1) employed full time and held either the D.M.D. or D.D.S. degree or the foreign equivalent, (2) teaching in a clinical department of the dental school, and (3) not departmental chairpersons or administrators (assistant dean, associate dean, or dean). A simple 40% stratified random sample of eligible faculty in each of the 66 schools, consisting of 686 faculty, was identified in an effort to obtain adequate numbers of faculty within each identified age group. A comprehensive survey instrument was developed evaluating factors associated with individual faculty productivity. I n the present study, the following variables were evaluated for each respondent: (1) number of years in full-time dental education (career age), (2) total number of articles in refereed journals and book chapters the respondents had published during their academic careers, and (3) total number of articles in refereed journals and book chapters the respondents had published during the previous two years. Not included in the publication numbers were (1) abstracts of articles in journals, (2) abstracts of papers presented at meetings, (3) articles or book chapters submitted or accepted for publication but not yet in print, (4) book reviews, and (5) editorials. During the fall of 1990, a survey packet was mailed to each subject. Each packet included a covering letter describing the nature of the research, a coded survey instrument, and a postage-paid return envelope. When the survey was returned, the code number was recorded. After one month, a second mailing was made to those individuals not responding to the initial request. Data collection was concluded 10 weeks after the initial mailing of the survey instrument. A total of 489 usable surveys were obtained, producing a final response rate of 71.3% (489 of 686). A comparison, made between on-time and late mailings on demographic characteristics, indicated no significant differences between mean responses of the on-time and late respondents.
RESULTS Respondents reported a mean number of years in full-time dental education of 10.7 (range 1 to 45, SD = 7.7) and a mean number of career publications of 11.1 (range 0 to 110, SD = 15.2). Table 1 gives a summary of an analysis of variance, showing a significant positive association of career age and life-time research productivity. Of special importance is the continued increase in number of publications for individuals 21 years and above.
333
CAREER AGE AND RESEARCH PRODUCTIVITY TABLE 1
ANALYSIS OF VARIANCEOF MEANNUMBER OF LEE-TIME PUBLICATIONS BY CAREER AGE Years in Full-time Dental Education
No. of Respondents
1-5 6-10 11-15 16-20 221 Totalt
152 121 90 65 48 476
No. of Publications*
M
SD
Range
3.38 10.21 10.78 12.69 26.90
5.44 10.95 12.52 12.70 26.93
0-35 0-65 0-70 0-50 0-110
*Fa,,,, = 32.16, p < ,0001. ?Total does not equal 489 because nonresponse is evident.
In Table 2 a significant positive association of career age and mean two-year research productivity may be seen. Data suggest a bimodal relationship, with the first peak occurring during a career age of 6 to 10 yr. and the second peak at 21 yr. and above. TABLE 2 ANALYSIS OF VARIANCE OF MEANTWO-YEAR RESEARCH P R O D U BY C CAREER ~ AGE Yean in Full-time Dental Education
No. of Respondents
No. of Publicationst
M
1-5 152 1.98 3.09 6-10 12 1 90 2.17 11-15 16-20 65 1.69 221 48 3.06 Totalt 476 *F,,4,,= 3.60, p < ,007. tTotal does not equal 489 because nonresponse is evident.
.,
SD
Ranee
2.77 3.39 3.26 2.43 4.20
0-15 0-15 0-20 0-10 0-20
DISCUSSION In the present investigation, a significant positive association between career age (number of years in full-time dental education) and individual faculty's research productivity was noted. Bayer and Dutton (1977) related that, if there are few or no generational effects (the drive to publish, emphasis on publication, and the success in publishing over time), then the plot of the number of life-time publications by age for cohort data could not turn downward but, at a maximum, only reach plateau at the upper ages. Conversely, "an actual downturn in life-time productivity of an older cohort against a younger cohort would reflect generational effects, regardless of what effects aging itself might have on publication productivity" (p. 268). Present results may be attributed to several factors concerning career research productivity for academic dentists in today's academic environment. Albino (1984) stated that, during the 1960s, universities accepted the fact
334
J. E. JONES, ETAL.
that dental faculty in clinical disciplines possessed considerable practical experience, but had little appreciation for the academic traditions of scholarship and publication. Today, however, academic dentistry is experiencing change in response to recent trends in dental education. From 1975 to 1987, the number of applicants to dental schools has decreased from 15,732 to 5,397, a 65% decline. Projections have indicated that first-year enrollment will fall to 3,170 in 1996, a 50% decline from 1979 (Solomon & Stoll, 1988). The dramatic reduction in students, combined with reduced federal support and a 64% tenure rate among dental faculty, has required academic dentistry to adapt to the changing demographic characteristics in dental education (Solomon & Stoll, 1986). University administrators are clarifying missions and planning long-term directions for their institutions. This process increasingly places emphasis on the research mission of the institution. The bimodal relationship between mean 2-yr. research productivity and career age demonstrated by these data has been reported for other academic disciplines (Pelz & Andrews, 1966; Bayer & Dutton, 1977; Krumland, Will, & Gorry, 1979). Bayer and Dutton (1977) described this relationship representing the observed rise and fall in research productivity throughout one's career as a "spirt-obsolescence curve," which best described five of seven disciplines they evaluated. The decline in productivity in midcareer has been attributed to reduced motivation to do research and devoting less time to research (Creswell, 1985). The resurgence in productivity during the later career years may be associated with changing market conditions (Bayer & Dutton, 1977) or the continued participation in research of the most productive members of the cohort (Creswell, Patterson, & Barnes, 1984). Alternatively, more productive faculty may be placed in administrative assignments within their institutions during the second half of their careers, returning to faculty positions again at the end of their careers (Bayer & Dutton, 1977). Results of this study show that senior dental faculty continue to be productive members of the academic community. REFERENCES Ammo, J. E. (1984) Scholarship and dental education: new perspectives for clinical faculty. lournal of Dental Education, 48, 509-513. hrsoN, P. D., & STEWART,J. A. (1974) Productivity differences among scientists: evidence for accumulative advantage. American Sociological Review, 39, 596-606. AMERICANASSOCIATION OF DENTAL SCHOOLS.(1989) Directory of dental educators. Washington, DC: Association. BALDWEN,R. G., & BLACKBURN,R. T. (1981) The academic career as a developmental process. Journal of Higher Education, 52, 598-614. B A ~A., E., & DUTCON, J. E. (1977) Career age and research-professional activities of academic scientists. lournal of Higher Education, 48, 259-282. BESS,J. L. (1973) Integrating Faculty and student life cycles. Review of Edrrcational Research, 43, 377-403. (1979) Age and scientific performance. American Journal of Sociology, 84, 958-977. CRESWELL, J. W. (1985) Faculiy research performance: lessons from the sciences and !he roc~alsci-
COLE, S.
CAREER AGE AND RESEARCH PRODUCTIVITY
335
ences. Wash~ngron,DC: Association for the Study of Higher Education. (ASHE-ERIC Higher Educotlon Report No. 4) CRESWELL, J. W., PAT~ERSON, R. A., & BARNES, M. W. (1984) Enhancing faculty research productivity. Paper read at Association for the Study of Higher Education, March, Chicago. G ., C., & FINKELSTEN, S. N. (1989) Factors associated with clinical facJONES,J. E., ~ E U S Z ulty research productivity. Journal of Dental Education, 53, 638-645. KRUMLAND, R. B., WILL, E. E., & GORRY,G. A. (1979) Scientific publications of a medical school faculty. Journal ofMedica1 Education, 54, 876-884. PELZ,D. C., & ANDREWS, F. H . (1966) Scientists in organizations: productive climates for research and development. N e w York Wiley. Pp. 271-274. SOLOMON, E. S., & STOLL,D. G (1986) Dental school faculty 1985-1986 characteristics and academic degree. Journal o/ Denrol Education, 50, 282-286. SOLOMON, E. S., & STOLL,D. G. (1988) Federal report predicts manpower decline. Journal of Dental Education, 52, 486-489. Accepted August 15, 1991
