Altruism or self-interest in tomorrow's veterinarians? A metric conjoint experiment and cluster analysis
IntroductionAltruism is considered a trait of veterinary and other health professionals, but the level of altruism in the veterinary profession is unknown. We designed a metric conjoint experiment to reveal other-orientation (an individual's caring concern for the wellbeing of others) and self-...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1044463/full |
| _version_ | 1797852063562989568 |
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| author | Adele Feakes Adele Feakes Noel Lindsay Edward Palmer Paul Steffens |
| author_facet | Adele Feakes Adele Feakes Noel Lindsay Edward Palmer Paul Steffens |
| author_sort | Adele Feakes |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionAltruism is considered a trait of veterinary and other health professionals, but the level of altruism in the veterinary profession is unknown. We designed a metric conjoint experiment to reveal other-orientation (an individual's caring concern for the wellbeing of others) and self-interest. We draw on the ‘Theory of Other-Orientation’, which states that individuals' decision-making heuristics can be impacted by their other-orientation independent of their self-interest. In patient-focused contexts, highly other-oriented or altruistic (veterinary) professionals may care too much for others and suffer immediate or cumulative financial and personal costs of such caring. At the same time, other-orientation can enhance job-related attitudes and outcomes, such as job satisfaction.MethodsIn a metric conjoint experiment, Australian final-year veterinary, science, nursing, entrepreneurship, and engineering students rated eight job scenarios with orthogonally arranged high and low levels of three job characteristics (n = 586) to provide observed measures of other-orientation and self-interest.ResultsA two-way MANOVA showed other-orientation or self-interest differed per discipline, but not gender. Veterinary (and engineering) respondents were less other-oriented than nursing respondents. Veterinary (and entrepreneurship) respondents were more self-interested than nursing respondents. K-Means cluster analysis confirmed four distinct profile groupings—altruistic/self-sacrificing, ‘both other-self’, self-interested and selfish—aligning with the discourse in the literature. Human nursing respondents stood out for the most members (50%) in the ‘both other-self’ profile compared to veterinary respondents (28%). Respondents of one of three veterinary schools stood out for the most members (19%) in the altruistic/self-sacrificing group.DiscussionOur metric conjoint experiment illustrates an alternative to ‘self-report’ items with Likert-scaled responses. Our finding of the ‘both other-self’ group adds to the literature, which considers that other-orientation and self-interest are separate constructs that are difficult to co-exist in individuals. This mix of traits is deemed helpful by organizational psychology scholars, for sustainability and wellbeing, especially for healthcare professionals involved in high-frequency and intense, patient-focused interactions. Our findings highlight the need for more research on the potential role of other-orientation and self-interest in veterinary school admissions processes, the hidden or taught curricula, job-related attitudes and beliefs, and wellbeing and professional sustainability in the veterinary sector. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T19:27:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9de3accb40044ac7983f2299e0e9832b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2297-1769 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T19:27:59Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-9de3accb40044ac7983f2299e0e9832b2023-04-05T05:34:17ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692023-04-011010.3389/fvets.2023.10444631044463Altruism or self-interest in tomorrow's veterinarians? A metric conjoint experiment and cluster analysisAdele Feakes0Adele Feakes1Noel Lindsay2Edward Palmer3Paul Steffens4School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, SA, AustraliaEntrepreneurship Commercialisation and Innovation Center, Adelaide Business School, Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, AustraliaAdelaide Business School, Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, AustraliaSchool of Education, Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, AustraliaEntrepreneurship Commercialisation and Innovation Center, Adelaide Business School, Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, AustraliaIntroductionAltruism is considered a trait of veterinary and other health professionals, but the level of altruism in the veterinary profession is unknown. We designed a metric conjoint experiment to reveal other-orientation (an individual's caring concern for the wellbeing of others) and self-interest. We draw on the ‘Theory of Other-Orientation’, which states that individuals' decision-making heuristics can be impacted by their other-orientation independent of their self-interest. In patient-focused contexts, highly other-oriented or altruistic (veterinary) professionals may care too much for others and suffer immediate or cumulative financial and personal costs of such caring. At the same time, other-orientation can enhance job-related attitudes and outcomes, such as job satisfaction.MethodsIn a metric conjoint experiment, Australian final-year veterinary, science, nursing, entrepreneurship, and engineering students rated eight job scenarios with orthogonally arranged high and low levels of three job characteristics (n = 586) to provide observed measures of other-orientation and self-interest.ResultsA two-way MANOVA showed other-orientation or self-interest differed per discipline, but not gender. Veterinary (and engineering) respondents were less other-oriented than nursing respondents. Veterinary (and entrepreneurship) respondents were more self-interested than nursing respondents. K-Means cluster analysis confirmed four distinct profile groupings—altruistic/self-sacrificing, ‘both other-self’, self-interested and selfish—aligning with the discourse in the literature. Human nursing respondents stood out for the most members (50%) in the ‘both other-self’ profile compared to veterinary respondents (28%). Respondents of one of three veterinary schools stood out for the most members (19%) in the altruistic/self-sacrificing group.DiscussionOur metric conjoint experiment illustrates an alternative to ‘self-report’ items with Likert-scaled responses. Our finding of the ‘both other-self’ group adds to the literature, which considers that other-orientation and self-interest are separate constructs that are difficult to co-exist in individuals. This mix of traits is deemed helpful by organizational psychology scholars, for sustainability and wellbeing, especially for healthcare professionals involved in high-frequency and intense, patient-focused interactions. Our findings highlight the need for more research on the potential role of other-orientation and self-interest in veterinary school admissions processes, the hidden or taught curricula, job-related attitudes and beliefs, and wellbeing and professional sustainability in the veterinary sector.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1044463/fullaltruismcluster analysisempathymetric conjoint analysisother-orientationprosocial motivation |
| spellingShingle | Adele Feakes Adele Feakes Noel Lindsay Edward Palmer Paul Steffens Altruism or self-interest in tomorrow's veterinarians? A metric conjoint experiment and cluster analysis Frontiers in Veterinary Science altruism cluster analysis empathy metric conjoint analysis other-orientation prosocial motivation |
| title | Altruism or self-interest in tomorrow's veterinarians? A metric conjoint experiment and cluster analysis |
| title_full | Altruism or self-interest in tomorrow's veterinarians? A metric conjoint experiment and cluster analysis |
| title_fullStr | Altruism or self-interest in tomorrow's veterinarians? A metric conjoint experiment and cluster analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Altruism or self-interest in tomorrow's veterinarians? A metric conjoint experiment and cluster analysis |
| title_short | Altruism or self-interest in tomorrow's veterinarians? A metric conjoint experiment and cluster analysis |
| title_sort | altruism or self interest in tomorrow s veterinarians a metric conjoint experiment and cluster analysis |
| topic | altruism cluster analysis empathy metric conjoint analysis other-orientation prosocial motivation |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1044463/full |
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