SOCIAL-COMPARISON IN MEDICAL-SCHOOL - WHAT STUDENTS SAY ABOUT GENDER AND SIMILARITY

The social comparison strategies of 43 (21 female, 22 male) fourth-yea r medical students were surveyed to determine the influence of student and target gender on comparison selections. Questions were included t o see what types of comparisons (standard-setter, universalistic, part icularistic, and downward) students made in five domains (diagnostic a bility, relationships with patients, clinical skills, writing patient reports, and relationships with physicians). Results showed that women compared themselves to female and male targets and men tended to comp are themselves to male targets. In general, standard-setter and univer salistic comparisons were most prevalent, suggesting that self-improve ment and self-evaluative goals played a significant role in the compar ison process. Convenience of comparison other was also identified as a significant determinant of comparison selection. Overall, these resul ts showed that similarity is an important determinant of comparison ch oice, but, contrary to previous research, gender is not necessarily th e primary source of this similarity.