We have just learned about a simple new dental investigation, which was presented to the world thus:
“Evaluation of CDs and Chewing Gum in Teaching Dental Anatomy,”
Kenneth L. Allen, New York University, USA
D.L. Galvis, New York University, USA
R.V. KATZ, New York University, USAMethods: One group (N=26) received a 50 minute standard dental anatomy lecture while the comparison group (N=30) used only an instructional, commercially-available CD on dental anatomy … Half of the students in each group were required to chew gum….
Results: Only the written examination average scores for the gum vs. no gum chewing groups showed differences which appear to be educationally meaningful, though not statistically significant…
Conclusion: This pilot study suggests that: 1) the cost-effective method of using of a self-study CD is as educationally effective as a standard lecture; 2) that gum chewing resulted in higher scores (a B- vs. C+ grade) in the written examination, and 3) that future, full-sized studies should be conducted to confirm these findings.
This study was funded by the Wm Wrigley Jr. Company.
Read the entire, mildly lengthy abstract here.
The research was presented at was a session at the IADR/AADR/CADR 82nd General Session (March 10-13, 2004) Honolulu, Hawaii.
Thanks to numerous investigators, who learned about it from Ben McGrath of The New Yorker, for bringing this to our attention.