Literature Review

1. Literature Review “The Status of Ethics Teaching and Learning in U.S. Dental Schools” Lantz, M.S., Bebeau, M.J., Zarkowski P.

2. Purpose • To gather and analyze information about the status of ethics teaching and learning in U.S. dental schools • To recommend a curriculum development and research agenda for professional ethics in dental education.”

3. Literature Review • The American Society of Dental Ethics mailed a survey to the “ethics director” at each of the 56 dental schools (at the time the article was written, there were only 56 dental schools). • All 56 schools responded • The ASDE pretested the survey to ensure content validity • Authors were from multiple different dental schools • Assessment of ethic-related competencies is callenging because it is by nature subjective

4. Literature Review • The dental professional makes a commitment to society that its members will adhere to the high ethical standards of conduct, a dentist holds a position of trust within society. • These standards are presented in the ADA Code. • Every year, dentists lose their licenses and both private and corporate offices violate ethical and legal principles • Dental schools have the task of incorporating awareness and necessary knowledge and tools for the student to weigh decisions in times of conflicting interests.

5. Literature Review • Results: • Little time is devoted to ethics instruction in the formal curriculum (26.5 hours ~ 0.5% of total instruction hours in dental school) • The amount of time devoted to dental ethics has not changed significantly over the past 30 years • What qualifies as ethics instruction and the teaching methods used has changed over the last 30 years • Dental schools incorporate a list of topics that are covered in dental ethics, and there is general agreement as to the appropriateness of the topics and the ethics competencies that need to be assessed • This study also revealed the UNMET needs: • Need to be more fully integrated • Need to assess and ENSURE competence • Faculty development • More attention to method of instruction

6. Literature Review • This article allows the ASDE and dental schools to see where common weaknesses are in dental education curriculum, thus allowing for improvement in these areas. • In addition to integrating ethics into the instruction, it is increasingly evident that visible support of ethical values, role modeling, and a school climate that fosters and embodies ethical behavior within is own system are significant school characteristics for influencing ethical behavior.

7. Literature REview “Paying for Grades: Impact of Merit-Based Financial Aid on Educational Quality” Henry, G., Rubenstein, R.

8. Literature Review • This article is a retrospective study that analyzes the changes that occur when students are paid for grades. • This article investigates the impact of the state of Georgia’s HOPE Scholarship (Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally), which was implemented in 1993. The program provides full tuition, fees, and books for any Georgia student attending a state institution who has a 3.0 grade point average in the high school and maintains it in college.

9. Literature Review • One investigation of this article is whether the increase in the number of students who qualify for this scholarship over the years is attributed to an increase in academic performance or to teachers feeling pressured to lowering standards. • SAT scores were considered as norm-referenced indicators.

10. Literature Review • For college freshman who qualified for the HOPE Scholarship and entering the University of Georgia, the average SAT score rose steadily from 967 in 1993 to 1009 in 1999. • The data also shows that “the percentage of African American students in the university system has increased, even as admission standards has risen.” • Also, the number of students taking college prep classes in high school has increased during these years.

11. Literature Review • Large-scale merit-based financial aid is relatively untested method to improve the quality of education and motivation, but the Hope Scholarship is a reform effort that focuses on the students, rather than on schools and teachers. However, more evidence must be gathered. • Though more research is needed, the conclusion is that the Hope program increase the incentive of high school students and their families to directly affect the quality of their education by investing more time and effort in schoolwork. • It is indicated in this article that merit-based aid has improved the quality of K-12 education in Georgia and reduced racial performance disparities by motivating students and their families to commit greater effort at schooling.