Purpose: The main objective of this descriptive study was to determine what effect age differences have in regard to deciding on a career in physical therapy. Subjects: A sample of convenience of 185 (94.9% return rate) masters level students from Nova Southeastern University in Davie, FL were surveyed. Method: A questionnaire was distributed to the students designed to obtain information regarding the student's influential factors. Data was analyzed by frequencies, cross tabulations, chi-square, and the Spearman rank correlation coefficient. Open-ended questions were analyzed and represented by frequency information. Results: Results revealed that there are significant differences between the younger versus the older student in the area of the "need to help others" and "influence of family friends and role models". Next, gender differences were addressed and significant relationships were found with "need to help others," "career fulfillment," and "job flexibility". Lastly, a relationship was found with the area of "opportunity for advancement" and ethnic background differences in relation to the student's influential factors. Conclusion: The results concluded that differences do exist between the younger and the older students. Differences also existed with respect to gender and ethnic background with the student's influential factors for selecting physical therapy as a career.
| Date of Award | Jan 1 1998 |
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| Original language | English |
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