Dissertation Abstract

Perceptions of Radiologic Technologists Toward Mandatory Continuing Education: An Assessment of the Relationship Between Selected Demographic and Sociopsychologic Variables and Acceptance of Mandatory Continuing Education.

The purposes of this study were: (1) to examine the relationship between two sociopsychologic variables, locus of control and role perception, and the acceptance of mandatory continuing education (MCE) by radiologic technologists; (2) to contrast radiologic technologists' acceptance of MCE in states which differ in their statutes of legislation with regard to this issue, and; (3) to ascertain the combination of personal, educational, and/or professional characteristics which most strongly influences acceptance of MCE by radiologic technologists. Participants in this study consisted of 882 randomly selected radiologic technologists from Florida and Ohio.

Radiologic technologists, overall, were found to be more accepting to MCE than those opposed to it. Further, radiologic technologists who reside in a state with MCE requirements were more accepting to MCE than were radiologic technologists who reside in a state with voluntary continuing education. Six informational variables were found to be significantly correlated with acceptance of MCE. These were: (1) maximum distance radiologic technologists were willing to travel to attend continuing education programs; (2) extent to which radiologic technologists were willing to pay for continuing education expenses; (3) highest level of education completed; (4) quality of continuing education programs available outside the place of employment; (5) number of states in which a radiologic technologist has practiced, and; (6) number of hours of inservice education attended in the last six months. Locus of control was significantly related to acceptance of MCE. Radiologic technologists with an internal or mixed locus of control were significantly more accepting of MCE than radiologic technologists who were classified as external. Role perception presented a significant positive correlation with acceptance of MCE. Radiologic technologists who rated high in either Institutional or Personal role orientation were more accepting of MCE requirements than radiologic technologists who were mixed or low on either or both scales.

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