Understanding “social reward”: A study on the teaching dental staff in states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana

• Main Authors: V Siva Kalyan, S Manjula, Ganesh Kulkarni, G. V. S. Sudhakar, T Madhavi Padma, K. V. N. R. Pratap
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2016-01-01
• Series: Journal of Indian Association of Public Health Dentistry
• Subjects: Dental staff; interpersonal relations; reward; social adjustment; social behavior
• Online Access: http://www.jiaphd.org/article.asp?issn=2319-5932;year=2016;volume=14;issue=4;spage=424;epage=428;aulast=Kalyan

Introduction: Social reward is a result of human interactions that motivates and gives happiness. In this study, an attempt was made to understand various domains of the social reward of dental staff. Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the individual differences in the value of social reward among dental staff working in teaching health-care institutions. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire-based study was conducted on dental staff working in teaching health-care institutions. Demographic data were collected. The social reward was assessed using Social Reward Questionnaire on a seven-point Likert scale. The mean value of each domain was calculated and compared based on the academic experience of the staff. The significance difference was tested using one-way ANOVA. Results: A total of 290 dental staff members of a mean age of 33.4 ± 6.2 years participated in the study. Those with academic experience of <1 year had a highest mean value with regard to domains such as admiration and sociability. The staff members of >11 years of experience had the highest mean value with regard to pro-social interaction. Conclusion: Understanding the individual differences in valuing social reward is useful to organizations in promoting a better work environment, contributes for pro-social behaviors among staff, helps in sustaining the worth, and contributes for positive human interactions.