Absence of Significant A-B Scale Differences Among Medical Specialties

Abstract

Using a new and improved A-B measure of psychotherapist effectiveness (SSZ-46) derived from the Strong Vocational Interest Blank, this study sought to determine whether psychiatrists as a group could be differentiated from other medical specialists. SVIB data were obtained while the 282 subjects (all males) were students at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; present medical specialty was ascertained at subsequent follow-up. Although psychiatrists and ophthalmologists obtained the highest (most A-directional) scores and pathologists the lowest, differences among groups were not statistically significant. Applications of alternative A-B measures yielded similar results. It was concluded that psychiatrists as a group are no more A-directional than other medical practitioners.